Over 30 govt vehicles destroyed in fire

More than 200 cars bought with taxpayers money are rusting away at KDA Park, Clifton

KARACHI:

An early morning blaze on Monday charred 30 government owned cars, which were rotting under open sky at KDA Park, Block 1, Clifton along with almost 200 other vehicles.

The cars, mostly 800cc ones, were bought years ago under an austerity scheme of the then provincial government. However, the bureaucrats refused to rides these 'teen dabbas' and preferred to continue with their double cabin SUVs and luxury sedans.

Some expensive vehicles requiring repairs were also 'lying in state' at this encroached park where only one watchman was posted.

On Monday morning, a fire erupted in the dried bushes on the ground which soon engulfed over two dozen vehicles.

Boat Basin police station Naseer Tanoli was among the first responder to reach the spot. He called in KMC Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 as flames raged towering high.

Three fire trucks were dispatched to the site, and firefighting efforts commenced. After approximately one to one-and-a-half hours of intense efforts, the fire was brought under control.

Despite the extensive damage to the vehicles, no casualties were reported.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, the Central Command and Control received the first report of the fire at 6:30am indicating that more than 20 of the abandoned vehicles were completely burned.

Fire Brigade officials had received the initial report around 5:30am and sent out two fire trucks from KMC.

The vehicles involved were owned by the Sindh Government Services and General Administration Department (S&GD) , and the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

The KDA Park in Clifton Block 2 has become a graveyard for the government vehicles bought from the taxpayers' money.

Around 200 vehicles of various departments of Sindh government, worth billions of rupees, parked under the open sky, are gathering dust and rust. Left at the mercy of scavengers, there is only one watchman to guard the parking area which has now become a junkyard. Thieves have taken out panels, batteries, and other expensive parts from many vehicles.

A survey by The Express Tribune revealed that official vehicles left to rot in the plot include various models of Suzuki Mehran, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, BMW, Land Cruiser and Prado.