Fire ravages Millennium Mall

Shopkeepers fault 'delayed response' from civic agencies

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KARACHI:

A major fire that broke out early Wednesday at Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi was brought under control after more than four hours, officials said.

A catastrophic fire ripped through the iconic Millennium Mall near Jauhar Morr on Rashid Minhas Road in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying at least 250 shops and reducing merchandise worth billions of rupees to ashes.

The blaze reportedly erupted around 3.50am on the rooftop of the mall, where generators and chillers were installed, before quickly spreading to the third and fourth floors. Shops dealing in ready-made garments, unstitched fabric, furniture, electronics, and other valuables were destroyed.

As news of the blaze spread, shopkeepers and staff rushed to the scene in panic. Eyewitnesses reported that several persons, including women, risked their lives by entering the burning building in a desperate attempt to salvage cash and goods.

Initially, four fire tenders were sent to the site, but as the flames intensified, more resource were deployed, bringing the total to 11 fire tenders, two snorkels, and several water bowsers. However, firefighters faced significant hurdles due to water supply delays from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), severely hampering early containment efforts.

As per reports that firefighters spent nearly 30 minutes assessing the situation before a snorkel from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) arrived, allowing proper firefighting operations to begin.

Thick plumes of smoke and towering flames triggered panic in nearby residential areas, particularly in D Block of Saima Shopping Mall, where residents, including women, children, and the elderly, were forced to evacuate.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassan stated that the blaze broke out at 3.50am, with rescue teams receiving an hour late.

Six ambulances, along with teams from the Fire Brigade, DC East Office, K-Electric, and SSGC, were mobilised. Security guards inside the mall were evacuated, but shopkeepers, many of them women, rushed in despite warnings, attempting to save their belongings.

Several shopkeepers broke down in tears, lamenting that their lifelong savings had gone up in flames. Many were asleep when the fire started and only learned of the disaster later, arriving at the scene to find their businesses destroyed.

According to the chief fire officer, investigations suggest the fire originated in the third-floor control room, likely due to electrical faults and malfunctioning chillers.

The absence of a functional firefighting system in the mall allowed the flames to spread unchecked in the critical early stages. Shopkeepers and residents slammed the "delayed response" from civic agencies, particularly the water shortage that hindered firefighting. Many questioned why the mall's fire safety systems were non-operational.

It was the third fire incident at a commercial building in a week.