A 15-year-old worker died of suffocation in a fire broke that broke out in a commercial building on a popular strip of the Murree Road in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
The teenager, identified as Muneeb, worked as a tailor at a shop. He was said to be sleeping in one of the shops that were caught in the blaze.
The fire was reported in the afternoon on a day when the markets were closed on account of a public holiday. This led to delay in the detection of the fire, which allowed it to spread, said first responders.
Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi deployed eight fire tenders and special rescue vehicles to the scene to control the blaze, which reportedly started in shops on the second and third floors of the commercial plazas.
Rescuers said the fire seemed to have started in one of the clothing warehouses and stores on the second or third floor of the Gulf Shopping Centre. It then spread to the adjoining two shopping malls, the Rabi Centre and the China Centre, they added.
At least eight fire tenders as well as special rescue vehicles took part in the operation that lasted at least three hours, while reinforcements had been called from CDA.
The fire took around three hours to bring under control. “It was seemingly caused by a short circuit,” said Rescue 1122.
Minister inspects operation
Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Population Welfare, Dr Jamal Nasir, personally visited the site on Murree Road to inspect the rescue operation.
He stressed the importance of thoroughly examining the three affected plazas, Rabi Centre, Gulf Centre, and China Centre, to prevent any chance of the fire rekindling.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2023.
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