Massive Rawalpindi plaza fire rages for 12 hours, exposes major safety violations

Blaze at Shanghai Plaza basement on City Saddar Road controlled after overnight operation by 50 firefighters

RAWALPINDI:

A massive fire broke out at around 6:30pm on Wednesday in a basement warehouse in a four-storey plaza in the busy, densely populated commercial hub of City Saddar Road in Rawalpindi, lasting 12 hours.

Firefighting operations by Rescue 1122 continued through the night after the blaze erupted, with the fire finally brought under control at dawn on Thursday morning.

According to officials, Rescue 1122 received information about the fire at around 6:30pm on Wednesday in the basement of the four-storey Shanghai Plaza on City Saddar Road. Rescue teams reached the site with five emergency and fire brigade vehicles and immediately began firefighting operations.

Meanwhile, Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Farhan Aslam completely closed traffic on the affected section of City Saddar Road due to the emergency operation. Diversions were placed and traffic police personnel were deployed to keep vehicles moving smoothly on alternate routes.

Within a short time, the fire on the outer side of the building was brought under control. However, while cooling operations were under way, the blaze intensified again and it was discovered that the basement also housed a warehouse containing equipment used for electricity and bore systems.

A large number of boring motors, along with related materials, rubber and plastic pipes, and oil, had been stored inside the warehouse, and the fire had spread there as well.

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When Rescue firefighters attempted to enter the warehouse, they found that there was only one main passage, which was closed, and there was no other entry or exit point to access the basement. There was also no ventilation system, which created serious challenges in directing foam and chemically mixed water to the fire.

As the blaze intensified, District Emergency Officer Rescue 1122 Engineer Sibghatullah — who was supervising the entire operation — called in additional rescue vehicles and personnel.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Usman Gujjar said teams cut through the gate and created openings by breaking parts of the warehouse roof to access the fire.

“Around 50 firefighters and rescuers, along with 13 fire brigade vehicles, have been engaged in firefighting operations for more than 12 hours, but the fire has still not been fully controlled,” Usman Gujjar said.

The spokesperson added that the plaza and warehouse are built on a compound of around 10 to 12 marlas, and the absence of proper access routes and ventilation for smoke to escape created major difficulties in controlling the blaze.

Combustible material stored inside the warehouse also fuelled the fire, though Rescue 1122 teams continued their efforts to put it out.

Authorities revealed that fire safety regulations were not followed in the plaza and warehouse — there was neither a proper ventilation system nor any emergency entry or exit except for a single narrow passage.

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Due to the absence of proper entry and exit points and a ventilation system in the basement of the affected plaza, Rescue 1122 teams drilled holes at eight different points in the roof to continue the operation.

According to Usman Gujjar, smoke extractor machinery and pipes (smoke ejectors) had been installed to remove smoke from the basement. “The electricity supply to the area was disconnected, and the operation continued for 12 hours,” said Rescue 1122.

Rescue 1122 teams installed smoke ejectors in the holes made in the basement roof to extract smoke from the building. Cooling operations coninue inside the basement through the openings made in the roof, according to Rescue 1122.

Engineer Sibghatullah told The Express Tribune, “Due to the absence of proper access routes and a ventilation system for smoke in the plaza and warehouse, which are built on a compound of around 10 marlas, firefighters faced serious difficulties in controlling the blaze. Combustible material such as rubber, plastic pipes, bore motors and oil was also stored in the warehouse. However, Rescue 1122 firefighters created access routes and managed to bring the fire under control, and cooling operations and smoke extraction through smoke ejectors are now underway.”

Serious violations of fire safety regulations were revealed following the fire incident in the basement of Shanghai Plaza on City Saddar Road.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, it emerged that plaza owners and traders failed to comply with fire safety rules and regulations. The basement of the plaza had neither proper entry and exit routes nor a ventilation system, indicating blatant disregard for fire safety standards.

Officials said the basement had no fire alarms, no emergency firefighting equipment or water arrangements in case of fire, and no smoke detectors installed.

Rescue 1122 authorities further said that a large number of electric motors and other materials had been stored in the basement up to the ceiling. Due to the absence of ventilation and proper entry and exit routes, the basement remained completely filled with fire and thick smoke.

Rescue 1122 officials said they were initially informed that the fire had broken out due to a short circuit. However, when rescue teams reached the site, the basement and warehouse were completely closed, and the fire was detected only after smoke was seen rising.

“Therefore, it cannot be said with certainty whether the fire was caused by a short circuit or some other reason. The exact cause will be determined during the investigation,” officials said.