Blaze reduces famous Rawat market to ashes

Over 260 shops destroyed; goods worth Rs500m gutted

RAWALPINDI:

A massive and mysterious fire reduced more than 260 makeshift and semi-permanent shops, stalls, shanties and handcart setups to ashes at the decades-old Rawat Central Bus Stand Market, situated at the junction of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The blaze, which erupted at around 10:30pm on Thursday, engulfed the entire market within moments. Traders said goods worth approximately Rs500 million were destroyed in the inferno.

The market, established over 50 years ago, comprised around 350 permanent and temporary business units, including stalls made of iron sheets, tarpaulin tents and wooden structures.

Shopkeepers and helpers narrowly escaped with their lives as the flames spread rapidly through the crowded marketplace. None were able to salvage their merchandise. Iron frames, steel sheets and reinforcement bars melted and twisted under the intensity of the heat.

When affected traders arrived at the site early the following morning, they found everything completely destroyed. Burnt and scattered across the area were garments, leather boxes, school bags, shoes, plastic footwear, joggers, fabrics, plastic utensils, glassware, clay pots, children's toys, artificial jewellery, tents and canopies. Food stalls were also devastated, with flour, cooked meals and other edible items reduced to ashes.

Eyewitnesses claimed the fire may have been triggered by lightning strikes during light rainfall and thundercloud activity.