Three die as fire engulfs Karachi mall
Efforts are underway by the fire department to to extinguish the flames in furniture shops near Karachi's Ayesha Manzil. SCREENGRAB
At least three people lost their lives and two were injured on Wednesday after a massive fire engulfed the multi-storey Arshi shopping mall located near Ayesha Manzil in Federal B Area of Karachi.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames after working tirelessly for several hours at the building, which mostly has floors comprising of residential apartments.
The fire brigade was informed about the blaze at around 5:20pm. At least 12 fire tenders, a snorkel, and a bowser participated in the operation.
Read 11 perish in Karachi mall blaze
TV footage and videos shared on social media showed the building engulfed in flames and smoke billowing in the air.
The fire damaged vehicles parked near the building. The blaze also caused a traffic gridlock in the area.
SSP Central Faisal Abdullah Chachar confirmed that three individuals had died in the fire so far. He added that their bodies had been recovered.
He said the process of searching the building was under way, expressing concern about the presence of more people inside it when the fire erupted.
Rescue officials said the preliminary investigation had revealed that the fire occurred because of a short circuit.
The Pakistan Navy’s fire tenders and personnel also reached the scene and provided full assistance in putting out the fire, according to its spokesperson.
Goods worth millions of rupees have turned to ashes in the shops located in the building as their owners made desperate efforts to save their belongings.
An emergency was imposed on the water hydrants near Sakhi Hassan and NIPA Chowrangi neighbourhoods.
Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori directed the Karachi commissioner to ensure the safety of the people inside the building.
Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar ordered an investigation into the fire.
An inquiry committee led by the Karachi commissioner would investigate into the cause of the blaze as well as any negligence by officials, his spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that body would submit its report and recommendations to the interim chief minister within three days.
Read Blaze in Business and Finance Centre
A rescue official said the six-storey building included two commercial floors -- ground and mezzanine -- while four were residential.
He added that the fire had originated from the commercial floors where shops mostly selling foam mattresses were located.
Various items including cosmetics, foam mattresses, jewellery, spare parts, tailoring items and clothes kept at shops and warehouses on the two floors were gutted in the blaze.
The people living in the apartments of the building’s upper floors were suffocating from the smoke from the burning shops and they rushed to safety.
Speaking to a private TV news channel, Dr Abid Shaikh, the head of Sindh Rescue 1122, termed it a “third-category fire”.
A police surgeon confirmed that three bodies from the building had been brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, adding that one of them was burnt beyond recognition.
Witnesses gave various accounts of how the fire started. One citizen said the fire started because a gas cylinder kept at a tailor's shop exploded. Another citizen said a light explosion was heard about half an hour before evening.
He added that that it was later found that work was under way on a gas cylinder, which exploded.
Some people said that the fire started in a foam mattress store and rapidly spread when efforts were made to put it out.