A major fire that broke out in Hafeez Centre, the city's major computer and mobile phone market on Gulberg Main Boulevard, caused a loss of hundreds of millions of rupees on Thursday.
According to officials, the blaze was reported at around 1pm when smoke engulfed the lower floors of the commercial plaza, trapping several people inside.
The fire, which originated in the basement due to a short circuit in the building's electrical wiring duct, rapidly spread to the third floor, carried by overheated electrical conduits. Thick black smoke soon filled several levels of the building, creating panic among shopkeepers and customers.
Over 100 rescuers accompanied by 20 emergency vehicles - including fire trucks, aerial platforms, sky lift, water browsers, ambulances and rescue motorbikes reached the site and began the firefighting and evacuation effort from two fronts.
After a hectic operation, the rescue team managed to bring the fire under control before it could engulf the rest of the plaza. No casualties were reported and millions of rupees worth of commercial goods were saved.
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