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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>After the flames, questions remain</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2590090/after-the-flames-questions-remain</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2590090/after-the-flames-questions-remain#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 26 13:03:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Wisal Yousafzai]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2590090</guid>
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				<![CDATA[A closer look at fire safety protocols across buildings in major cities reveals a network of ticking time bombs]]>
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				<![CDATA[The horrific fire at Karachi&rsquo;s Gul Plaza has plunged the entire nation into grief. Over a single cursed night, flames engulfed one of the busiest shopping centres in the port city, leaving dozens dead, scores missing, and countless families shattered by the unimaginable loss of loved ones. For many survivors, the scene resembled a living nightmare: smoke-filled corridors, blocked emergency exits, and the deafening cries of those trapped inside. What was meant to be a routine shopping trip turned into a fight for life against an out-of-control blaze. As minutes turned into hours and hours into days, the darkness of despondence clouded the eyes of hopeful families and the criminal loopholes in the country&rsquo;s fire safety systems could no longer be covered by the blame game.

The tragedy, which appears to have claimed the lives of nearly 73 people, was anything but an accident. It was fuelled by years of systemic neglect and inadequate emergency protocols. Dysfunctional hoses, absent or expired fire extinguishers, locked doors, and congested streets prevented firefighters from reaching the scene in time, turning a preventable blaze into a mass casualty disaster. Men, women, children, and expecting mothers who sauntered into the plaza eyeing gadgets, crockery, toys or baby clothes confronted smoke, chaos, helplessness and death. In no time, Gul Plaza &ndash; the thriving lifeline of thousands of traders and millions of households &ndash; transformed into a ghostly graveyard. A scorched monument reminding ordinary citizens that their lives were not worth protecting.

As Karachi reels from the heart-wrenching calamity, critical questions are being raised over the safety of commercial and residential buildings across the nation. From high-rise offices to crowded marketplaces, the lack of a regulated fire safety mechanism including functional fire alarms, clearly marked exits, and prompt emergency services leaves ordinary citizens exposed to risks that could otherwise be mitigated. Rescue teams and fire brigades often struggle to reach urban centres quickly due to congested roads, poor infrastructure, and insufficient equipment, further exacerbating the danger and raising the likelihood of evitable disasters like that at Gul Plaza.



Beyond the ineffable loss of lives and livelihoods, the Gul Plaza tragedy is a grim reminder of what happens when safety measures are treated as optional and enforcement as an afterthought. Across Pakistan, densely populated markets, residential complexes, and commercial buildings operate in hazardous conditions, where outdated wiring and ignored fire regulations make catastrophic fires not a question of &ldquo;if&rdquo; but &ldquo;when&rdquo;. This latest disaster is a wake-up call: without systemic reform, stricter enforcement, and widespread public awareness, more lives will continue to be lost to preventable fires, leaving the nation to grieve over a repeating tragedy that could, and should, have been avoided in the first place.



Glimpse of hell

The deadly blaze at Karachi&rsquo;s Gul Plaza is a stark reminder of how quickly negligence can turn fatal. Like most commercial buildings in the city, the plaza lacked adequate fire safety systems. Investigations revealed that 13 of the building&rsquo;s 16 exits were closed at the time of the fire, trapping shoppers unfamiliar with escape routes. With no emergency lighting system in place, once the electricity connections were disrupted, the building was plunged into darkness, making evacuation near impossible for those stuck inside. Despite trying their best to escape the death trap, countless victims lost hope and had no choice but to send desperate farewell voice notes to their loved ones who waited for them on the other side.

Conflicting accounts emerged regarding when the fire brigade was informed and how quickly tenders reached the site. Officials claimed engines arrived within minutes, yet logistical realities told a different story.

Gul Plaza is situated on MA Jinnah Road, one of Karachi&rsquo;s busiest arteries, where construction linked to mass transit projects has narrowed roads and restricted movement. Even a fire engine located nearby could not reach the site without significant delays due to traffic and road closures. This incident demonstrates how urban planning failures can compound existing safety risks and highlights the urgent need for integrating disaster management into city planning.

Like Karachi, Lahore&rsquo;s commercial buildings too have long been exposed to fire hazards. Authorities launched inspections in the wake of the Karachi tragedy, examining fire alarms, emergency exits, hydrants, and sprinkler systems in large shopping malls and high-rise buildings. Surveys revealed troubling trends: nearly 70 per cent of commercial buildings in Lahore do not fully comply with fire safety regulations. Outdated wiring, overloaded circuits, and non-functional safety equipment are widespread, highlighting systemic negligence. The human cost of this negligence is immense, as small traders risk not just property but their lives too in daily business operations.

Mian Usman Ahmed, a trader on Hall Road, Lahore, revealed that the risks have been ignored for decades. &ldquo;The wiring is outdated, but building owners avoid spending money on repairs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If a fire breaks out, shopkeepers have no option other than saving their own lives.&rdquo; Similarly, Asif Khan, a trader in a Gulberg shopping mall, says that fire safety is widely viewed as an unnecessary expense. &ldquo;Unless there is strict monitoring and effective fines, building owners will not take this seriously,&rdquo; emphasised Khan. These statements underscore the fact that economic considerations often outweigh safety concerns in densely populated markets.

Down south in Karachi, KMC spokesperson Daniyal Ali Shah claimed that after the Gul Plaza incident, the mayor of Karachi had directed that fire safety systems be installed in unsafe buildings across the city. &ldquo;KMC has also sent a list of unsafe buildings to the builders&rsquo; association,&rdquo; said Shah. &ldquo;This list had been prepared by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), but it could not be implemented.&rdquo; The list was prepared in 2024. In this regard, the SBCA conducted fire safety audits of 145 buildings in Karachi, which revealed that 80 per cent of the buildings did not have any fire safety systems installed.

In Peshawar, too, fire safety is equally concerning, particularly in older neighbourhoods and crowded markets. Rescue 1122 data revealed that a total of 5,691 fire incidents were reported across K-P last year. Most of these incidents were caused by electrical short circuits. In January 2024, a large blaze broke out in Karkhano Market, followed by another destructive fire in October 2024 at Saddar Bazaar&rsquo;s mobile phone market. Janas Khan, a shopkeeper in Saddar Market, felt that the damage could have been prevented. &ldquo;We often say that whatever happens is God&rsquo;s will,&rdquo; he told The Express Tribune, &ldquo;but the truth is that if proper precautionary measures had been taken, such a huge loss could have been avoided.&rdquo;



Hoses and hurdles

As fire incidents continue to plague urban centres, emergency response systems across Pakistan&rsquo;s major cities are struggling. In Karachi, traffic congestion, encroachments, and road closures linked to development projects routinely delay fire tenders, while the absence of nearby hydrants and unreliable water supplies further cripple response efforts. The Gul Plaza blaze exposed how even when fire crews reach a site, the lack of water in hoses and tenders can render them ineffective.

In other cities too, this crisis of hoses and hurdles is endemic. Javed Khan, a local from Gulbahar, points out that the system often appears ill-prepared in the face of fire emergencies. &ldquo;Sometimes even the water tanks of fire brigade vehicles are empty. This shows how serious the situation is,&rdquo; he says. Khan also criticised the absence of aerial firefighting support. &ldquo;Fires in congested inner-city areas require helicopter services, but we don&rsquo;t have any. Our chief minister and provincial leadership are busy protesting for political causes instead of demanding essential facilities from the federal government.&rdquo;

In Punjab alone, Rescue 1122 responded to 28,495 fire incidents in 2025. These incidents resulted in 99 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries, underscoring the scale of the challenge. Short circuits were identified as the leading cause of fires, followed by negligence, gas leaks, candle usage, and kitchen fires. Lahore reported the highest number of cases in the province, accounting for more than 5,000 incidents in a single year, while Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan also recorded significant losses.

Secretary Emergency Services Dr Rizwan Naseer revealed that in 2025, fire incidents in Punjab increased by 3.34 per cent compared to 2024, whereas in 2024 the increase was 35 per cent compared to 2023. &ldquo;Building owners should ensure full compliance with the directives issued under the Punjab Community Safety Building Regulations 2022 so that people living and working in high-rise buildings remain safe,&rdquo; said Dr Naseer. &ldquo;A significant reduction in fire incidents can be achieved through precautionary measures at the domestic and commercial levels, regular fire safety audits, and awareness campaigns.&rdquo;

Rescue 1122 Punjab spokesperson Farooq Ahmed explained that the department currently operates 316 fire and emergency vehicles and 815 ambulances across Punjab. Surveys of 2,000 high-rise buildings have been completed, with their layouts, videos, and safety details stored on a digital dashboard to assist responders during emergencies.

In Peshawar, residents and social workers confirmed that emergency preparedness remains inconsistent. Rescue 1122 K-P spokesperson Bilal Faizi added that the department operates three types of firefighting vehicles, with water capacities ranging from 3,000 to 12,000 gallons. &ldquo;For fires in crowded markets and narrow streets, motorcycles and smaller vehicles are used to reach the site quickly. The department has more than 500 trained firefighters and a fleet of over 138 vehicles in K-P, including a 120-foot crane, motorcycles, and specialised units designed for hilly terrain,&rdquo; said Faizi, who acknowledged that the lack of infrastructure, including hydrant reservoirs, continues to hamper operational effectiveness.

Weak enforcement of building regulations gives rise to hazardous incidents across the country. In Gulbahar, many buildings were constructed without approved maps or compliance with safety regulations, according to Khan who lives in the area. &ldquo;No building rules are followed here,&rdquo; he told The Express Tribune. &ldquo;Everyone builds according to their own choice, while the government remains asleep,&rdquo; he said, voicing a sentiment echoed by traders across the city. These repeated patterns across Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar suggest a systemic failure, where regulatory authorities lack both the capacity and the will to enforce existing safety laws. Unable to demand safety improvements from landlords or municipal authorities, vulnerable communities are exposed to glimpses of hell every now and then.



Burning under neglect

Despite comprehensive fire safety laws, experts believe Pakistan&rsquo;s fire crisis stems not from the absence of rules but from poor enforcement. Legal frameworks clearly mandate fire alarms, hydrants, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting, and clearly marked exits. Compliance, however, is often treated as optional, particularly in crowded markets and older high-rise buildings.

Across cities, traders and residents describe a culture in which safety measures are largely ignored. Shah Alam Market trader Muhammad Saleem informed that many buildings in Lahore technically have fire extinguishers, but they are often unusable. &ldquo;Either the extinguishers have expired or the staff does not know how to use them. Emergency exits are often blocked or filled with goods,&rdquo; Saleem pointed out. Hence building safety experts warn that inspections are often reduced to paperwork exercises.

Dr Azhar Saleem, a faculty member at the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, disclosed that most buildings only meet requirements during initial inspections or when certificates are needed. &ldquo;The problem is not the absence of laws but the lack of effective implementation. Many buildings have faulty fire alarms, expired extinguishers, and untrained staff. Furthermore, emergency exits are frequently blocked or used as storage rooms or offices, making timely evacuation impossible,&rdquo; he added.

On the other hand, Rescue 1122 official Faizi highlighted the misuse of chemicals in factories and warehouses, which instigated fire hazards. &ldquo;Sometimes the chemicals stored or used to control fires actually worsen the situation,&rdquo; he said, urging for better regulation and awareness. &ldquo;Without proper city-wide infrastructure, even a trained and well-equipped team cannot respond optimally,&rdquo; he added, highlighting a systemic failure beyond the control of first responders.

Pakistan&rsquo;s cities have a long history of fatal fires, with Karachi witnessing some of the deadliest incidents. In 2012, a blaze at a garment factory in Baldia Town killed over 260 workers and injured around 60, while a 2016 fire at Regent Plaza Hotel on Shahrah-e-Faisal claimed 12 lives and left 75 injured. In December 2023, a fire at the RJ Shopping Mall on Rashid Minhas Road killed 11 people, and in the same year, a fire at Arshi Shopping Mall in Karimabad killed four people. Similarly, in June 2025, a fire at Millennium Mall destroyed hundreds of shops, resulting in losses running into hundreds of millions of rupees.

The latest reports claim that more than 2,000 small and large fire incidents are reported every year in Karachi. These incidents demonstrate that fire safety challenges are structural, spanning urban planning, electrical infrastructure, building codes, and regulatory enforcement. Experts argue that meaningful change requires a shift from reactive to proactive strategies. Regular fire safety audits, strict penalties for violations, upgraded electrical systems, and sustained public awareness campaigns could significantly reduce casualties and losses. Without proactive governance, densely populated urban centres remain vulnerable to recurring tragedies.]]>
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			<title>Karachi’s concrete tinderboxes expose a fire safety system that fails when it matters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2587923/karachis-concrete-tinderboxes-expose-a-fire-safety-system-that-fails-when-it-matters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2587923/karachis-concrete-tinderboxes-expose-a-fire-safety-system-that-fails-when-it-matters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 26 08:33:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Haaniyah Asim]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Karachi]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2587923</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Gul Plaza blaze highlights weak oversight, thin resources, and a culture of safety on paper]]>
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				<![CDATA[Around 80 people remain missing and at least 26 have been confirmed dead after a devastating fire tore through Gul Plaza Mall, gutting the building and trapping dozens inside. The blaze raged for more than 36 hours before it was brought under control, as thick smoke, repeated water shortages and limited equipment slowed rescue efforts.

Shop owners estimate losses running into billions of rupees, wiping out years of investment in a few hours. Many traders described scenes of chaos and desperation, accusing rescue officials and the Sindh government of a delayed and inadequate response. Eyewitnesses and affected shopkeepers said fire tenders arrived late, firefighters lacked proper machinery and rescuers did not have protective masks, preventing them from entering the building during critical early hours. Several alleged that water ran out repeatedly, forcing operations to stop and allowing the fire to intensify into a third-degree blaze.

The Gul Plaza tragedy has once again laid bare Karachi&rsquo;s chronic fire safety failures &ndash; problems that go far beyond a single building and point to a deeper institutional breakdown across the city&rsquo;s commercial and industrial zones.

&ldquo;There is no proper system in place,&rdquo; a former Director General of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) told The Express Tribune, commenting on recurring fires in the industrial area. He said the zone lacks both effective internal safety mechanisms and meaningful external oversight, creating conditions where disasters are almost inevitable.

Even a cursory online search of the EPZ paints a disturbing picture, with headlines dominated by fires rather than industrial output or export growth. Former Director General of EPZ AD Khawaja, who is also the former IGP Sindh, said the causes are neither isolated nor accidental but rooted in systemic failures, from daily factory operations to the absence of basic fire safety infrastructure. &ldquo;This is not about one mistake or one factory,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about a system that fails at every level.&rdquo;

The Landhi EPZ was created as a cornerstone of Pakistan&rsquo;s export strategy, offering duty-free imports, tax exemptions and streamlined rules to attract investment in sectors such as IT, garments and engineering. Investors were promised modern infrastructure and regulatory support, but those assurances have increasingly been undermined by weak enforcement of safety standards.

Read more: Gul Plaza fire under control after 36 hours; 14 dead as Karachi shopping centre gutted

Khawaja pointed to a lack of continuity in leadership as a major factor. &ldquo;There is no continuity in management,&rdquo; he said, noting that most EPZ chairpersons operate from Islamabad, far removed from ground realities. &ldquo;That disconnect is part of the problem.&rdquo;

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said EPZ management&rsquo;s failure to comply with a Memorandum of Understanding and established safety protocols is a critical issue.

The results are visible. Three major fires have broken out in the EPZ in the past year alone. Preventive measures remain weak, while access for fire squads is often blocked. Khan highlighted the danger of basement fires: without standard operating procedures or proper entry points, firefighters cannot reach the source, allowing flames to spread unchecked.

Karachi&rsquo;s wider fire response system is equally fragile. A recurring detail in fire reports is the arrival of two snorkels at major incidents. That is because the city of more than 35 million people owns only two snorkels in total. Moving them across long distances costs precious time, allowing fires to escalate before meaningful action begins.

Official data reflects the scale of the crisis. In 2025, Karachi recorded more than 2,400 fire incidents, causing property losses worth millions of rupees. Fire officials say many lives and livelihoods could have been saved with a functional, well-equipped system.

Read more: Fire breaks out at garment factory in Karachi Export Processing Zone

Khawaja said the EPZ does not have a dedicated fire squad of its own. Internal safety systems often fail to activate early, while delays in outside response allow fires to spread, creating a dangerous cycle of institutional inefficiency.

The physical layout of the zone adds to the risk. Factories are packed closely together, many rising five storeys high on plots as small as 6,000 square yards. &ldquo;Once a fire starts, containment becomes extremely difficult,&rdquo; Khawaja said.

Former Chief Fire Officer Mubeen Ahmed said conditions were not always this bad. &ldquo;Thirty years ago, the system was far better and such incidents were rare,&rdquo; he told The Express Tribune. &ldquo;Over time, management expanded the zone, stacked factories on top of each other and abandoned inspections. That&rsquo;s when the risks multiplied.&rdquo;

Another former fire chief, Zafar Mairaj, said the EPZ, despite falling under the federal government, collects taxes from factories and is responsible for providing fire safety. While the zone has its own fire station, he said it is short-staffed, lacks fire tenders and cannot respond effectively, forcing the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to step in. He questioned why the EPZ continues to &ldquo;fail to fulfil these responsibilities despite having taken them on.&rdquo;

Most fires in the zone erupt in textile and garment factories, where highly flammable materials allow flames to spread within minutes. The frequency of such incidents means they barely register beyond headlines, yet together they reveal a deeper institutional failure.

That Karachi&rsquo;s largest industrial hub &ndash; a key driver of the city&rsquo;s economy and national exports &ndash; lacks basic fire safety underlines a grim reality: the city that runs the country does not have the systems to protect itself.

With just 28 fire stations serving more than 35 million people, officials warn that without a major overhaul of fire safety infrastructure, stricter enforcement of building rules and accountable local management, tragedies like Gul Plaza will continue &ndash; at an ever-rising human and economic cost.]]>
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			<title>Warehouse explosion near Karachi’s Saddar kills 3, injures over 30</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2562404/at-least-30-injured-in-blaze-at-fireworks-warehouse-on-karachis-ma-jinnah-road</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 25 12:06:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2562404</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah takes notice, directs authorities to provide victims full medical care until recovery]]>
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				<![CDATA[At least three people were killed and 32 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a fireworks warehouse near Saddar Parking Plaza along MA Jinnah Road on Thursday afternoon.

The blast occurred around 3:30 pm in a ground-floor warehouse inside Al-Amena Plaza, where firecrackers and other explosive materials were stored for sale.

More than 30 people, many of them with burn injuries, were transported to Jinnah and Civil hospitals for treatment. Dr Nosheen Rizvi, Deputy Director of the Accident and Emergency Department at Jinnah Hospital, confirmed that 20 injured were brought to the facility, while 14 others were admitted to Civil Hospital.

Also Read: Pak-China vow to upgrade CPEC during Sixth Strategic Dialogue

Tragically, 16-year-old madrassa student Asad&rsquo;s charred body was recovered from the site. Speaking to reporters, his uncle Jamal Shah said Asad, a resident of Patel Para, had come to visit his elder brother during school holidays.

&ldquo;His brother, Afser Shah, who works at a surgical instruments shop near the blast site, was also injured and is undergoing treatment,&rdquo; he added.



Rescue teams working to extinguish the fire. Photo: Express

Another victim, 32-year-old Kashif, who was severely wounded in the blast, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The explosion was reportedly heard several kilometers away, with smaller explosions continuing intermittently after the initial blast.

Read: Supreme Court grants Imran Khan bail in eight May 9 cases

Fire brigade teams responded promptly, deploying eight fire tenders, a snorkel, and a water bowser to control the fire and initiate cooling operations. Search efforts are ongoing to ensure no one remains trapped inside the building.

Raja Umar Khitab, an official from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), condemned the illegal storage of large quantities of fireworks and explosives in blatant violation of safety regulations. &ldquo;This location had previously been raided, and two tons of explosives were seized during a crackdown on violations,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Legal action against the warehouse owner will follow.&rdquo;



Photo: Express

He explained that fireworks contain explosive materials strictly regulated by law. &ldquo;No more than 50 kilograms can be stored in a single shop, and such materials must be kept away from residential areas and petrol pumps.&rdquo;

Speaking from the blast site, the Deputy Commissioner (South) stated that the explosion was reported at approximately 3:30 PM, prompting an immediate response from all relevant agencies. &quot;The fire is now under control,&quot; he confirmed. &quot;A search operation is ongoing to ensure no one is left inside.&quot;

Also Read: DG ISPR dismisses reports of Field Marshal Munir&rsquo;s &#39;apology&#39; remarks

Explaining the licensing process, the deputy commissioner said that six to eight agencies are involved in issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) before such businesses are allowed to operate. &ldquo;Explosives can only be stored in limited quantities, and no one is permitted to exceed those limits,&rdquo; he said.

He noted that the last NOC for the warehouse had been issued in 2024, but additional documentation was currently under review. A technical team from the Explosives Department would assess the quantity of material stored on site, he added, and legal action would be taken if any violations were confirmed.

No permit for fireworks storage: official

The Deputy Director of the Explosives Department confirmed that no permission had been granted for the storage of fireworks at the site.

&ldquo;We are currently investigating the quantity of explosive material that was being stored,&rdquo; he said, adding that NOCs for up to 50 kilograms are issued by the Deputy Commissioner&rsquo;s office, while approvals for larger quantities fall under the jurisdiction of the Explosives Department.

&ldquo;It appears that more than 50 kilograms were being stored at this location,&rdquo; he stated.





Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and instructed authorities to ensure the victims receive comprehensive and quality medical care until full recovery.

Jinnah Hospital&rsquo;s Executive Director, Professor Dr. Shahid Rasool, submitted a detailed report on the incident to the Chief Minister, stating that all victims were provided with the best possible medical facilities.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Haq Lanjar has ordered an immediate investigation into whether the warehouse was operating with a valid license. He directed the police to assist in the rescue operations, gather statements from the injured, and collect evidence from the site.

Extensive damage inside plaza

Meanwhile, extensive damage was observed inside the building during search operations, with various types of goods stored in the shops completely burned to ashes.

Vehicles and motorcycles parked near the building were also damaged in the blast. The building housed various shops, including those supplying furniture and equipment for beauty parlors, coffin shops, and 8 to 10 shops dealing in explosives.

Read: Stocks slide about 1,350 points amid political anxiety

Shopkeepers of the affected shops gathered in front of the building, visibly distressed and grief-stricken. Many were in tears as they witnessed their shops and merchandise reduced to ashes.

&ldquo;We have suffered heavy financial losses in this explosion,&rdquo; said one of the shopkeepers.

Eyewitnesses reported that when the explosion occurred, fireballs shot out in different directions, injuring several pedestrians.

&ldquo;Firecracker shells were scattered all around the area,&rdquo; an eyewitness said. &ldquo;One flame fell on a motorcyclist passing by, severely injuring him and burning his motorcycle to ashes.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>India successfully tests long-range hypersonic missile</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2510155/india-successfully-tests-long-range-hypersonic-missile</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2510155/india-successfully-tests-long-range-hypersonic-missile#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 17 Nov 24 10:07:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2510155</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Test took place from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha state marks India's entry into elite circle of countries]]>
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				<![CDATA[India has achieved a significant milestone in its military development with the successful test of a domestically developed long-range hypersonic missile, placing it among a small group of nations with such advanced capabilities.

The test, which took place on Saturday from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the eastern coast of Odisha state, marks India&#39;s entry into the elite circle of countries capable of developing hypersonic technology, alongside the U.S., China, and Russia.

The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with industry partners, is designed to carry payloads over distances exceeding 1,500 km (approximately 930 miles).

According to a statement from the Indian government, the flight data confirmed the missile&#39;s successful terminal maneuvers and impact accuracy, underscoring its effectiveness and precision in striking distant targets.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a &quot;historic achievement,&quot; emphasizing that it strengthens India&rsquo;s defense capabilities and secures its position as a global player in the field of cutting-edge military technology.

He added that the successful test places India among a select group of nations possessing critical hypersonic missile technology.

The test is part of India&#39;s broader push to develop advanced defense systems capable of meeting modern warfare challenges.

Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), are seen as the future of missile technology due to their speed, maneuverability, and ability to evade interception by traditional missile defense systems.

The global race to develop hypersonic weapons has intensified in recent years, with China and Russia also making significant strides in this field.

The United States, which has been at the forefront of hypersonic research, has also been testing its own versions.

India&#39;s successful test aligns with its long-term strategy to enhance its defense capabilities and assert its position as a technological power on the global stage.

This achievement follows India&rsquo;s previous success in the development of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, which was tested for the first time with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

The Agni-5, capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, marked another critical advancement in India&rsquo;s missile capabilities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pride in the launch of the Agni-5, highlighting India&rsquo;s growing missile capabilities.

The success of the hypersonic missile test comes at a time when India is also seeking to strengthen its strategic defense partnerships.

The country&#39;s growing missile capabilities, coupled with its ongoing military modernization programs, contribute to India&rsquo;s increasing influence in regional and global security affairs.

India&rsquo;s focus on hypersonic technology comes amid a broader regional context of rising military tensions, especially in relation to its neighbors.

The missile test is likely to further raise concerns among its regional rivals, particularly Pakistan and China, both of which are also advancing their missile technologies.

As India continues to enhance its military capabilities, its success in developing hypersonic missile technology underscores its commitment to securing a technological edge in the evolving global defense landscape.

With this achievement, India joins an exclusive group of nations that are leading the charge in the development of next-generation weapons systems.]]>
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			<title>'Drone attack unlikely caused fire at Zaporizhzhia plant':UN</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2487771/drone-attack-unlikely-caused-fire-at-zaporizhzhia-plantun</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2487771/drone-attack-unlikely-caused-fire-at-zaporizhzhia-plantun#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Aug 24 11:08:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2487771</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Team of experts from International Atomic Energy Agency finds no drone remains in visit to damaged cooling tower]]>
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				<![CDATA[The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Monday that its experts visited the damaged cooling tower at Ukraine&rsquo;s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and found no remains of a drone.

&quot;Based on the observations, the team assessed that it was unlikely that the primary source of the fire began at the base of the cooling tower,&quot; IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

His remarks came a day after Ukraine and Russia traded accusations following reports of a fire breaking out at one of the cooling systems of the Russia-controlled power plant.

Russia accused Ukrainian forces of striking the cooling tower with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian troops of setting fire to the plant.

While visiting the impacted cooling tower, Grossi said the team observed burnt areas in the internal equipment higher up, near the water nozzle distribution level.

Samples of the debris, including burnt and molten plastic, were collected, he said, adding: &quot;Neither tire nor drone remains were observed during the walkdown.&quot;

The team confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of the debris, ash or soot located at the base of the cooling tower, and the nuclear safety of the plant was not affected, he stressed.

&quot;The team has not been able to draw definitive conclusions on the basis of the findings and observations so far,&quot; Grossi said, adding the IAEA will continue its overall analysis after an additional review and access to the water nozzle distribution level and the cold-water basin.]]>
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			<title>California weather won't help firefighters battling massive blaze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484448/california-weather-wont-help-firefighters-battling-massive-blaze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484448/california-weather-wont-help-firefighters-battling-massive-blaze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jul 24 09:02:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2484448</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[More than 5,500 firefighters from across California and other states are working around clock to douse the Park Fire]]>
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				<![CDATA[The largest wildfire in the US&nbsp;swelled to over 600 square miles (1,550 square kms) on Tuesday night, bigger than the city of Los Angeles, fire officials in California said, as thousands of firefighters battled the blaze in a wilderness area north of Sacramento.

More than 5,500 firefighters from across California and other states were working around the clock to douse the Park Fire, burning in the state&#39;s Central Valley, about 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento, the capital.

The fire grew to 386,764 acres (156,517 hectares), becoming the fifth largest wildfire in Californian history, officials said.

The Park Fire on Tuesday surpassed the size of the&nbsp;2020 Creek Fire&nbsp;in Fresno County, which burned almost 380,000 acres (153,780 hectares), fire officials said. But it is still smaller than the state&#39;s largest fire on record, the August Complex fire of 2020, which burned more than 1 million acres (404,685 hectares) in seven counties in northern California.

The Park Fire - fueled by dry grass, brush and timber - is fast-moving, said Fire Capt. Dan Collins of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or Cal Fire.

&quot;This fire has lots of fuel that is receptive to burning, and it&#39;s hard to get to,&quot; he said. &quot;Our fire line is 260 miles (673 kms) around, that&#39;s the size of three Lake Tahoes. It can take two-three hours to get personnel in there over the terrain.&quot;

The weather brings no relief for fire fighting conditions, said Ashton Robinson Cook, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. No rain is in sight this week, and hot and extremely dry weather will prevail, he said.

Temperatures will reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8&deg;C) on Wednesday and highs could hover at that level until next Monday, he said, with relative humidity dropping to as low as 7%.

The Park Fire, which was only 18% contained on Tuesday, has forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 people and destroyed or damaged more than 192 structures, fire officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Jeremy Hollingshead, a spokesman for Cal Fire, said that lingering clouds of smoke have grounded the 41 helicopters used to drop water and fire retarding chemicals on the blaze.

Evacuations included Paradise, the town that was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state&#39;s history.

The man charged with starting the Park Fire, allegedly by pushing a flaming car down a Butte County gully last Wednesday, was formally charged with arson on Monday, but awaits additional charges, officials said.

The man, Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, California, denied wrongdoing at an arraignment on Monday, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey at a news conference. It was unclear if Stout had an attorney.

Stout did not enter a plea but was denied bail. His arraignment was continued to Thursday, as more charges could be added, Ramsey said.]]>
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			<title>Massive fire in northern California forces thousands to evacuate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483230/massive-fire-in-northern-california-forces-thousands-to-evacuate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483230/massive-fire-in-northern-california-forces-thousands-to-evacuate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 24 21:51:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Xinhua/News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2483230</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Suspected arsonist arrested as fire destroys over 130 structures, rapidly spreads across 164,000 acres]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Crews in northern California are battling the largest wildfire of the year in the state, which has destroyed over 130 structures and forced thousands of evacuations. The Park Fire, which began Wednesday afternoon near Chico, north of Sacramento, rapidly expanded to cover more than 164,000 acres (663.9 sq km) by Friday morning, leaving significant destruction in its path.

As of Friday morning, the fire had destroyed 134 structures and threatened 4,200 more, with containment at only 3 percent, according to local officials and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The blaze has been exacerbated by hot, dry weather, gusty winds, and low humidity, placing the area under a Red Flag Warning.

Authorities identified the cause of the fire as arson and arrested 42-year-old Chico resident Ronnie Dean Stout II on suspicion of intentionally starting it. The fire is believed to have started when a burning car was pushed into a gully, rolling nearly 20 meters down an embankment. The motive remains unclear.

The rapid spread of the Park Fire has led to widespread evacuations in Butte County and neighboring Tehama County. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea reported that around 4,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, including 400 from Chico. By early Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom&#39;s office confirmed that 3,500 people had already been displaced from their homes.

At least two people have suffered minor injuries, though the full impact on the local population is still being assessed. Officials continue to urge residents to stay informed about their evacuation zones and be ready to leave immediately if necessary.

Cal Fire has mobilized significant resources to combat the Park Fire, with 1,633 personnel engaged in firefighting efforts, supported by 142 engines, 6 helicopters, and 54 bulldozers. The primary focus is on evacuations, protecting structures, and constructing containment lines to prevent the fire from spreading further.

The Park Fire&#39;s rapid expansion and the destruction it has caused underscore the severe challenges faced by firefighters and residents alike in northern California. As efforts continue to control the blaze, the community remains on high alert, with ongoing assessments and updates from local authorities.]]>
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			<title>Fire at Karachi's Shahrah-e-Faisal building sends two to hospital</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483155/fire-at-karachis-shahrah-e-faisal-building-sends-two-to-hospital</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483155/fire-at-karachis-shahrah-e-faisal-building-sends-two-to-hospital#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 24 10:42:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2483155</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Smoke engulfed the building, causing five people to lose consciousness]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire broke out on the ninth floor of a building near Metropole Hotel on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi, causing smoke to fill the structure and resulting in five people losing consciousness.

According to police officials, two of the affected individuals have been transported to Jinnah Hospital for treatment.

Due to the dense smoke, the rescue operation was initially halted but resumed shortly afterwards. All 50 individuals inside the building were successfully evacuated, including those on the roof, who were brought down using a snorkel.

Authorities reported that ten fire brigade vehicles and two snorkels are currently at the scene to extinguish the fire.

Additionally, the road from Jinnah Hospital to Metropole has been closed to traffic. Traffic police are redirecting vehicles from FTC to Kala Pul to manage the situation.

Fire brigade officials confirmed that there are no further reports of individuals trapped inside the building and expressed confidence that the fire would be brought under control soon.

The Pakistan Navy&#39;s firefighters are assisting in the efforts to contain the blaze. According to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Navy, five fire tenders, a snorkel, and personnel from the Navy are aiding in the firefighting operations.]]>
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			<title>Ayeza Khan narrowly escapes fire accident during shooting</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482500/ayeza-khan-narrowly-escapes-fire-accident-during-shooting</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482500/ayeza-khan-narrowly-escapes-fire-accident-during-shooting#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 24 08:07:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2482500</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Demonstrating quick thinking, she led herself and the horse away from the fire]]>
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				<![CDATA[Renowned Pakistani actress Ayeza Khan faced a dangerous situation while filming a scene for an upcoming drama, narrowly escaping a potential disaster on set as depicted in an instagram video that has since gone viral.

Ayeza is seen wearing a black outfit and filming with a black horse on the beach. As she approached a torch, she felt intense heat and quickly moved away. Demonstrating quick thinking, she also led the horse away from the fire.





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A post shared by Ayeza Khan (@ayezakhan.ak)




This incident isn&#39;t the first of its kind for Ayeza. She previously escaped a similar situation during a drama shoot, which she also documented on Instagram.

Read Arsalan Naseer reveals how a nepo baby stole his project with Ayeza Khan

Previously in a video, the &quot;Chupke Chupke&quot; star is seen quickly reacting as a shawl catches fire on set.

She accidentally stepped on the flames, prompting a quick response from someone behind the camera who urgently shouted her name. In a moment of reflex, she threw the burning shawl away, avoiding any untoward incident.

Ayeza shared the experience on her Instagram account, expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for safeguarding her amidst the daily challenges of shooting.

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			<title>Fire breaks out in Karachi University's Mass Communication Department</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2479893/fire-breaks-out-in-karachi-universitys-mass-communication-department</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2479893/fire-breaks-out-in-karachi-universitys-mass-communication-department#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 24 07:18:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2479893</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sources indicate that fire was caused by a short circuit, situation is now under control]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire broke out on Monday in the Mass Communication Department of Karachi University, a prominent institution that has produced many journalists across Pakistan.

Two fire tenders are currently engaged in rescue operations, attempting to extinguish the flames. According to sources, the fire started around 10am&nbsp;in the department&#39;s audio-visual room.

The sources have indicated that the fire, which is not considered severe, was caused by a short circuit and the situation is now under control.

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			<title>Saudi flight catches fire at Peshawar airport</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2478874/saudi-flight-catches-fire-at-peshawar-airport</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2478874/saudi-flight-catches-fire-at-peshawar-airport#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jul 24 15:48:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2478874</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Flight from Riyadh's landing gear catches fire; all 276 passengers and 21 crew safe thanks to swift rescue efforts]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A Saudi Arabian airline flight narrowly avoided a major accident after landing at Peshawar&#39;s Bacha Khan International Airport on Thursday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed.

According to the CAA, the landing gear of flight Saudia SV 792 caught fire shortly after landing. Prompt action from rescue services prevented a potential disaster as they swiftly responded to reports from airport authorities.

The incident occurred earlier today when the aircraft, arriving from Riyadh, experienced smoke and a subsequent fire in its left landing gear during manoeuvres near the runway, the aviation authority reported.

Air Traffic Control promptly alerted the pilot, facilitating a quick response from fire and rescue services who successfully extinguished the fire, averting a more serious incident.

Video footage from the scene showed smoke billowing from beneath the aircraft, which was carrying over 200 passengers.





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All 276 passengers and 21 crew members safely disembarked using inflatable slides.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board has initiated an investigation into the incident.

In response to the incident, Bacha Khan International Airport has temporarily suspended runway operations, diverting flights to Islamabad until 10 am on Friday.

This adjustment has affected schedules for private flights, including those operated by PIA.]]>
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			<title>Fire erupts on Mount Parnitha near Athens</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475324/fire-erupts-on-mount-parnitha-near-athens</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475324/fire-erupts-on-mount-parnitha-near-athens#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jun 24 06:08:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[xinhua.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2475324</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nearly 90 firefighters were deployed in the area]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A wildfire broke out on Saturday on Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, prompting a large response from local fire brigade.

Nearly 90 firefighters were deployed in the area, assisted by at least eight water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, as the blaze was raging near a settlement, according to a fire brigade press statement.

Authorities issued an emergency alert for nearby residents to &quot;stay alert and follow official guidance.&quot; The fire has led to the closure of the Athens-Lamia national highway as a precaution, as thick smoke has risen over a wide part of northwestern Athens.

Strong winds blowing in the area were hampering firefighting efforts, Kostas Zobos, deputy governor of the Attica region, told the media.

A large part of Mount Parnitha was scorched down during a major wildfire in the summer of 2023.

Greece suffers from many wildfires every summer due to high temperatures, heatwaves linked to climate change, and arson. Twenty people lost their lives in 2023 as a result of the wildfires. One person died earlier this June in a wildfire in western Greece.

Due to unusually high temperatures in spring and June, authorities have said that the risk will be high this summer.]]>
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			<title>Ukrainian drone strike sets Russian oil depot ablaze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474796/ukrainian-drone-strike-sets-russian-oil-depot-ablaze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474796/ukrainian-drone-strike-sets-russian-oil-depot-ablaze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 24 06:45:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2474796</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Russia's defence ministry says it intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight but have no casualties]]>
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				<![CDATA[A Ukrainian drone hit a petrol depot early Friday setting it on fire, a Russian regional governor said, adding that the strike took place hundreds of miles from the border.

Maxim Yegorov, governor of the Tambov region in central Russia, said the strike happened at 4:35 am (0135 GMT).

&quot;A small fire broke out and it has been contained,&quot; he said on messaging app Telegram. &quot;There are no victims&quot;.

Russia&#39;s defence ministry, meanwhile, said it had &quot;intercepted&quot; 25 Ukrainian drones overnight, without mentioning the Tambov region.

In the western Bryansk region, governor Alexander Bogomov said a drone had been downed but its debris &quot;partially destroyed the roof of an administrative building&quot;.

Ukraine, which has been facing a Russian offensive for over two years, regularly launches attacks targeting Russian energy and defence sites in response to strikes on its territory.]]>
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			<title>Major fire erupts near Israeli military base in East Jerusalem</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474164/major-fire-erupts-near-israeli-military-base-in-east-jerusalem</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474164/major-fire-erupts-near-israeli-military-base-in-east-jerusalem#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 24 07:47:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2474164</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Suspected arson near Ofrit base triggers investigation]]>
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				<![CDATA[A large fire broke out late Tuesday near an Israeli military base on Mount Scopus in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel&rsquo;s Army Radio said firefighters worked to contain to it.

Authorities are investigating the suspected arson, it added.

Police in a separate statement confirmed their collaboration with firefighting teams following the outbreak of the blaze in an open area near the Ofrit base and Hebrew University.

At this stage, there is no danger to residents of the area, the military base, road users or university buildings, the police said.

Twelve fire crews are working to control a large fire that broke out near the Ofrit base on Mount Scopus. Many more teams are on their way to the scene in an attempt to prevent damage to the base and nearby facilities.

The fire broke out days after&nbsp;Hamas rejected Israel&#39;s post-war plan and said on June, 25&nbsp;&nbsp;that Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi&#39;s talk about a &quot;post-war day plan&quot; in northern Gaza will not find a way to be implemented.

In a statement sent to Xinhua, Hamas emphasized that Hanegbi&#39;s discussion on Gaza&#39;s &quot;post-war future&quot; and his plan reflect the Israeli government&#39;s insistence on &quot;a futile path.&quot;

&quot;The post-war day plan for Hamas has been prepared in recent weeks, and we will soon see a practical expression of this step,&quot; Hanegbi said earlier in the day at a conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya.

He claimed that establishing an alternative to replace Hamas is essential for achieving long-term victory, noting that the alternative should be a government that relies on local populations who wish to live alongside Israel and gains support from moderate Arab states.]]>
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			<title>Drone strike sparks oil depot fires in Russia's Rostov region</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472255/drone-strike-ignites-oil-depot-fires-in-russias-rostov-region</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472255/drone-strike-ignites-oil-depot-fires-in-russias-rostov-region#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 24 04:36:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2472255</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The fire had spread over an area of 5,000 cubic meters with no casualties reported]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Several oil storage tanks caught fire following a drone attack early Tuesday in Azov, a town located in Russia&#39;s southern Rostov region.

Vasily Golubev, the governor of Rostov region adjacent to Ukraine, stated on Telegram that initial reports indicate no casualties.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on Telegram that the fire had spread over an area of 5,000 cubic meters.

Firefighters, aided by 21 pieces of equipment, were actively engaged in extinguishing the blaze.





Ukraine has been fending off a Russian military campaign since February 2022. Both sides conduct regular strikes hundreds of kilometres into enemy territory with missiles and drones.

Ukraine, which lacks the vast arsenal of missiles available to Moscow, has focused on making long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia.

Ukraine has recently increased the frequency of its attacks on Russian soil, particularly against oil refineries.]]>
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			<title>India repatriates bodies of 45 workers killed in Kuwait fire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471731/india-repatriates-bodies-of-45-workers-killed-in-kuwait-fire</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471731/india-repatriates-bodies-of-45-workers-killed-in-kuwait-fire#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 24 18:13:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2471731</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Electrical short circuit is likely to have caused Wednesday's fire in the housing facility in Mangaf]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The bodies of 45 Indians who died in a fire in a labour housing facility in Kuwait were flown to India on Friday, as bereaved relatives and experts urged New Delhi to do more to protect the lives of those who work abroad and send remittances home.

An electrical short circuit is likely to have caused Wednesday&#39;s fire in the housing facility in Mangaf, a coastal city south of the capital Kuwait City. The Indian workers were among the 49 people who perished. A further 33 are being treated in hospitals.

Television showed bereaved families waiting at the airport to receive the bodies of their loved ones. On arrival, the coffins were placed with photographs of the deceased on separate tables in the cargo complex of the airport.

Families, friends, ministers and officials paid homage while police gave them a guard of honour.

Twenty-three of the 45 were from the southern Indian state of Kerala and its chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, called the accident &quot;a national tragedy&quot;.

Read also:&nbsp;Fire in Kuwait leaves 24 families in India devastated

&quot;This is the biggest tragedy involving migrants. We consider the migrants as our lifeline. It&#39;s a big loss to the state,&quot; he told reporters.

Millions of foreign workers make up the majority of the labour force in Kuwait and some of its Gulf neighbours, and often live in overcrowded accommodation.

On Thursday, Kuwaiti prosecutors ordered one citizen and a number of residents to be remanded in custody over accusations of manslaughter due to safety negligence at the building.

India&#39;s foreign ministry said 176 workers lived there.



Father of Cibin Thevarottu Abraham, one of the victims of the fire, cries next to the coffin containing the body of his son. PHOTO: REUTERS

The other dead included three Filipino workers, the Philippine migrant workers ministry said, adding that two more were in hospital and in a critical condition.

Local authorities did not disclose what kind of employment the workers were engaged in, although like in other Gulf states, Kuwait relies heavily upon foreign labour in industries like construction.

About 13 million Indians work abroad - more than 60% of them in Gulf nations - according to information shared with parliament by the Indian foreign ministry in 2023. Kuwait accounts for the third highest for a country with nearly 850,000.

The Indian foreign ministry says it has a &quot;robust mechanism&quot; to monitor working conditions abroad. But commentators said it needed to do more.

The Kuwait fire &quot;is a reminder of the dismal working conditions of a large, and often ignored, section of the Indian diaspora&quot;, the Indian Express said in an editorial on Friday.]]>
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			<title>Northern Israel hit by missile barrage, emergency services report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471697/northern-israel-hit-by-missile-barrage-emergency-services-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471697/northern-israel-hit-by-missile-barrage-emergency-services-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 24 13:39:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2471697</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Latest salvo follows Israeli strike on Tuesday that killed a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Israeli emergency services reported dealing with a string of fires in northern Israel on Friday after dozens of missiles were fired from southern Lebanon into the area around the border town of Kiryat Shemona.

The military said that warning sirens had sounded in northern Israel and emergency services said teams were searching the area, where they reported there was property damage but no casualties.

Television footage on Friday showed damaged buildings and cars as well as brush fires in several locations caused by strikes or falling debris amid heatwave conditions.

The Israeli military has exchanged regular fire with Hezbollah forces across the border in southern Lebanon ever since the start of the war in Gaza in October.

Neither side has appeared to wish a wider conflict, but there has been growing worry that the steady intensification of strikes could push the situation out of control with the risk of a wider conflict in a region that has already seen direct exchanges between Israel and Iran.

Read also:&nbsp;Lebanon&#39;s Hezbollah reveals more of its arms in risky escalation

The latest salvo came after an Israeli strike killed a senior commander from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, drawing the heaviest bombardment of northern Israel since the start of the war in October last year.

Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes on both sides of the border, creating growing pressure to resolve the stand-off, but diplomatic efforts have so far proved fruitless.

On Friday, the Israeli military said fighter jets and anti-aircraft systems had intercepted 11 of the 16 drones launched by Hezbollah against Israel in the past 72 hours.

&quot;The Israeli Air Force is continuing to operate at all times to thwart terrorist activities and protect Israel&#39;s skies from any threat,&quot; it said in a statement.]]>
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			<title>Fire in Kuwait leaves 24 families in India devastated</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471493/fire-in-kuwait-leaves-24-families-in-india-devastated</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471493/fire-in-kuwait-leaves-24-families-in-india-devastated#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 24 15:57:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2471493</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[About 40 Indians, mostly from Karela, died in blaze in Mangaf city, with at least 9 others killed and over 50 injured]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[From a father-of-two who planned to leave his job to a 29-year-old due to visit his family in August, two dozen Indians from the southern state of Kerala died in a fire that ripped through a labour-housing facility in Kuwait on Wednesday, leaving their families bereft.

Around 40 Indians died in the blaze, which also killed at least 9 other people in Mangaf city, while more than 50 were injured, according to India&#39;s foreign ministry. Most of the Indian victims came from Kerala.

Norka Roots, a government agency for Keralites living outside the state, put the number of the state&#39;s dead at 24 with seven others injured and their condition serious. The federal government had arranged a special flight to bring the bodies, Norka Secretary K Vasuki said.

Among the Keralite victims was Muralidharan Nair, who had been working in Kuwait for 32 years, including 10 as a senior supervisor in the company that owned the housing facility where the fire broke out.

&quot;He came on leave in December for two months with a plan to end his career in Kuwait. The company called him back,&quot; his brother, Vinu V Nair, told Reuters, adding that the family identified the 61-year-old from a list published by India&#39;s embassy. His two roommates also died in the blaze.

Read also:&nbsp;Blaze in Kuwait building claims lives of 49 foreign worker

Millions of foreign workers make up the majority of the labour force in Kuwait and some of its Gulf neighbours, and often live in overcrowded accommodation.

For decades, a disproportionately large share of Indian workers in the Gulf have been drawn from Kerala, a densely packed state along southern India&#39;s Arabian Sea coast.

News of the disaster spread quickly in Kerala. The family of Saju Varghese, 56, found out about the fire from television and social media, and confirmed his death from friends and relatives in Kuwait.

Working in the Gulf nation for the last 21 years, Varghese planned to visit Kerala later this month to arrange his daughter&#39;s higher education.

&quot;The family is in a state of shock,&quot; their neighbour, George Samuel, said.



Indian Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development Veena George consoles the mother of Akash Sasidharan Nair, one of the victims of a fire that broke out in a building housing foreign workers in Kuwait, at Pathanamthitta district in the southern Indian state of Kerala, June 13, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

Another victim, Stephin Abraham Sabu, 29, was an engineer in Kuwait since 2019 and called home almost daily.

He had visited his hometown Kottayam &quot;two or three times&quot; since he left, and had booked air tickets to return in August for the housewarming of his family&#39;s new home and to help them buy a new car, his friends said.

Sabu&#39;s father has a small shop in Kottayam while his mother is a housewife. His brother, Febin, also works in Kuwait but lived separately.

Authorities in Kuwait have not officially disclosed the nationalities of those who died. The other dead included three Filipino workers, the Philippine migrant workers ministry said on Thursday, adding that two others were hospitalised and in critical condition.]]>
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			<title>Blaze in Kuwait building claims lives of 49 foreign worker</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471237/fire-in-kuwaiti-building-housing-workers-kills-41-deputy-pm-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471237/fire-in-kuwaiti-building-housing-workers-kills-41-deputy-pm-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 24 10:13:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2471237</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad says 'the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters']]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 49 people were killed in Kuwait on Wednesday after a fire broke out in a building housing foreign workers, with Kuwait&#39;s deputy prime minister accusing property owners of committing violations that contribute towards such incidents.

The nationalities of those who died were not immediately disclosed by local authorities. India&#39;s ambassador visited hospitals where workers were being treated for injuries sustained in the fire.

At one hospital, more than 30 Indian citizens were admitted, the embassy wrote on social media, adding that at least 47 workers had received treatment in hospitals.

Several Indians, including from the southern state of Kerala, were reported to have died in the fire, according to a letter written by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to India&#39;s foreign minister that was shared with the press.

A government agency for Keralites living outside the state said it had been told by the Indian community in Kuwait that 41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, had died in the fire.

Reuters could not independently verify the figures.

Read also: Fire at entertainment venue kills at least 24 people in western India

Visiting the site, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah said &quot;the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters&quot;. It was not immediately clear if any violations had taken place at the building or what they were.

Low paid, blue collar workers in the Gulf often live in overcrowded accommodation. Local authorities did not disclose what kind of employment the workers were engaged in, though like in other Gulf states, Kuwait relies heavily upon foreign labour in industries like construction, including from South and Southeast Asia.

An Egyptian who survived the fire and worked as a driver in Kuwait, told local media the fire had started on a lower floor and that those on higher levels were unable to escape. He said the building had filled with thick smoke.

Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire and said that any officials found responsible would be held accountable.



Kuwait&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and acting Interior Minister, Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah speaks with police officers in front of a burnt building, following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, June 12, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

The interior ministry, which said the death toll had risen to 49, was investigating, searching the site for victims and working to identify those who had died, state media reported.

The fire in Mangaf, a city along the coast south of the capital Kuwait City, was reported to local authorities at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad told state television. It was later contained.

Another senior police commander told state television that many people had died from smoke inhalation, and dozens were rescued. He said the building housed a large number of workers.

The senior police commander said authorities had warned against housing too many workers in a single accommodation, but didn&#39;t say if regulations had been flouted.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described news of the fire as saddening in a post on social media platform X.

&quot;My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest,&quot; he said.]]>
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			<title>Paretabad incident</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2469630/paretabad-incident</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2469630/paretabad-incident#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 24 18:25:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2469630</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Eight children, rushed to burns ward of Civil Hospital Karachi, succumbed to their injuries]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Paretabad, a densely populated locality in Hyderabad, has been shrouded in sorrow, following a devastating incident that could have been avoided. Witnesses describe a scene straight out of a nightmare. It all began with a single cylinder explosion at a fuel filling shop, igniting a massive fire. As curious onlookers gathered, a second cylinder exploded, unleashing a fireball that engulfed everyone nearby. The result was chaos and destruction, with many victims now in critical condition, clinging to life in various hospitals across Karachi. Eight children, rushed to the burns ward of Civil Hospital Karachi, succumbed to their injuries by Friday evening.

The community is in shock, mourning and seething with anger. Families of the approximately 60 affected households are demanding answers. They want to know why such hazardous businesses are allowed to operate in tightly packed areas without stringent safety measures. This is a severe dereliction of duty by the authorities responsible for enforcing safety regulations. The presence of a fuel filling shop storing multiple LPG cylinders in a crowded area was always a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The sad reality, however, is that such instances are preventable, and this is precisely why stringent regulations regarding gas cylinders need to be maintained. Immediate action is needed to review and enforce safety regulations. Hazardous businesses must be relocated to safer, less populated areas, and rigorous inspections must become the norm to ensure compliance with safety standards. 

The incident in Paretabad is a painful wake-up call. Condolences are not enough. The community needs assurance that steps are being taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Ensuring the safety of citizens should be the top priority and it is high time for the authorities to prove their commitment by taking strict action.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Fire leaves 1,200 Rohingya homeless in Bangladesh camps</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2469327/fire-leaves-1200-rohingya-homeless-in-bangladesh-camps</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2469327/fire-leaves-1200-rohingya-homeless-in-bangladesh-camps#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jun 24 14:42:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2469327</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[175 shelters, dozens of shops, and other facilities burn; officials suspect arson attack amid repeated fire incidents]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A major fire on Saturday burned down hundreds of shelters, shops, and other facilities in refugee camps on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh, leaving 1,200 Rohingya shelterless.

The fire originated in the Rohingya Camp No. 13 of Ukhiya of Cox&#39;s Bazar.

Firefighters brought the fire under control and doused it completely, Deputy Assistant Director of Cox&#39;s Bazar Fire Service Atish Chakma confirmed to Anadolu.

The fire was primarily suspected to be an act of arson from a shop at the camp, Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman told Anadolu.

&ldquo;There are a number of factions among the Rohingya in the camps over establishing power and they were found involved in such crimes before. Furthermore, overcrowded conditions and built components of the shelter could help the fire spread fast,&rdquo; he added.

However, we are still investigating the fire incident to figure out the actual facts, he added.

Read also:&nbsp;Bangladesh approves $723m package for Rohingya, host communities

A total of 175 shelters, 40 shops, one learning centre, and one Islamic school were burned in the fire, while 50 shelters, 30 latrines, and 15 bathing cubicles were dismantled or damaged, according to the refugee office in southeastern Cox&rsquo;s Bazar.

The fire also left 1,200 people homeless and injured three others.

On May 24, another fire had gutted about 300 houses in the same camp.

&ldquo;We have assessed the aftermath of the incident and are working to provide shelter and support to the people affected,&rdquo; the commissioner added.

Bangladesh said about 1.3 million Rohingya are living in the South Asian country.

The majority of Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine, Myanmar in 2017. Most of them are housed in overcrowded camps in Cox&rsquo;s Bazar, but since late 2020, about 35,000 have been relocated to the island of Bhasan Char.]]>
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			<title>Margalla Hills fire extinguished: CDA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468684/pm-takes-notice-after-fire-erupts-again-on-margalla-hills</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468684/pm-takes-notice-after-fire-erupts-again-on-margalla-hills#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 May 24 09:42:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2468684</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[200 firefighters, two helicopters fight blaze]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A forest fire on the Margalla Hills was completely extinguished on Tuesday, declared the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The fire brigade and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) responded promptly to extinguish the blaze.

PM Shehbaz Sharif had taken notice of the fire on Margalla Hills and directed the relevant authorities to mobilize quickly to control the blaze and ensure the safety of life and property, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (MPO).

The CDA reported that the fire broke out on Saidpur Range Trail 3 and spread towards Noor Pur Range Trail 5.

The CDA chairman monitored the firefighting efforts on the instruction of the prime

Read also:&nbsp;Margalla Hills wildfire

As many as 200 firefighters took part in the operation. Besides, two helicopters and fire tenders were also deployed.

In addition, the team of Rawalpindi Rescue 1122 also participated in the effort. According to CDA, they faced hardship in blowing out the fire due to howling gales and hot weather.

Earlier, three separate fires had also flared up across the Margalla Hills on Monday. Military helicopters also joined the operation to extinguish the fires. The sudden outbreak was fuelled by scorching temperatures.

Spread over 12,605 hectares, the Margalla Hills witness many fire incidents during summer every year.]]>
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			<title>Fire ravages girls school in Haripur</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468560/students-safely-rescued-after-school-burns-down-in-haripur</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468560/students-safely-rescued-after-school-burns-down-in-haripur#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 May 24 10:54:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahid Hamid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2468560</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Prompt rescue ensures students’ safety; K-P CM urges swift action to repair damage]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire caused by a short circuit broke out in the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sirikot. As a result, the ceilings of the rooms, the wooden furniture and school records were burnt to ashes.

The school had around 600 female students present in the school on the day of the incident. Everyone was able to be safely evacuated and no casualties were reported. The fire was completely brought under control and the cooling process continued without any obstruction. The rescue operation was conducted with the involvement of the Haripur Rescue 1122 firefighter team.

Haripur District President Sahibzada Hamid Shah also arrived at the scene of the incident for inspection and support.

Read&nbsp;Unknown attackers burn solved exam papers in North Waziristan school

As per sources in the vicinity of the school, the fire broke out due to a short circuit, and as soon as the Haripur Rescue 1122 was alerted, they sent out fire vehicles to the area and began rescue operations. Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Ghazi also took part in the rescue operation. Many civilians had gathered at the location at the time of the incident and had lent a hand in the operation.

In the meantime, the education department has also formed a three-member team to estimate the damage, which will submit its report to the higher officials in the next two days. The team will also investigate the reasons behind why the old wires, which had caused the short circuit, had not been replaced beforehand.

Read more&nbsp;School fire prompts safety concerns in Rawalpindi

A departmental inquiry will be conducted after identifying those responsible. The police have also registered an initial report of the incident.

CM takes notice

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took notice of the fire incident that occurred at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sirikot.

Gandapur praised the timely action taken for the rescue operation which led to the safe evacuation of all students. Furthermore, he instructed that the Department of Education and the concerned district administration should determine the reasons for the incident and submit a report soon.

&ldquo;The damage caused to the school building due to fire should be repaired immediately so that educational activities can be continued, and all educational institutions should be checked so that such accidents do not happen in future,&rdquo; he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>Fire kills six newborns at baby hospital in India's capital</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468402/fire-kills-six-newborns-at-baby-hospital-in-indias-capital</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468402/fire-kills-six-newborns-at-baby-hospital-in-indias-capital#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 May 24 14:05:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2468402</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Fire department says six more children were rescued and taken to a different hospital, with one on a ventilator]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Six newborns have died in a fire at a baby care hospital in India&#39;s capital New Delhi, local authorities said on Sunday.

Television footage showed firefighters attempting to douse the fire which broke out late Saturday night and engulfed the hospital in the eastern part of the city.

The fire department told news agency ANI, in which Reuters owns a minority stake, that six more children were rescued and taken to a different hospital, with one on a ventilator. The fire has since been brought under control.

Read also:&nbsp;Fire at entertainment venue kills at least 24 people in western India

The owner of the baby hospital has fled, Delhi police said.

&quot;The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared,&quot; Delhi&#39;s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a post on social media platform X.

The fire occurred a day after 27 people were killed in a fire at an entertainment centre in the western state of Gujarat. Local media have reported that two people have been detained in connection with that incident.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/New-Delhi-baby-hospital-fire1716732693-0/New-Delhi-baby-hospital-fire1716732693-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Fire at entertainment venue kills at least 24 people in western India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468398/fire-at-entertainment-venue-kills-at-least-24-people-in-western-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468398/fire-at-entertainment-venue-kills-at-least-24-people-in-western-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 May 24 13:40:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2468398</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[With rescue efforts continuing in Rajkot district of Gujarat province, local mayor says death toll is expected to rise]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 24 people, including many children, died in a fire that broke out on Saturday evening in a family entertainment venue in the western Indian state of Gujarat, a government official said.

With rescue efforts continuing at the scene in the Rajkot district, the local mayor told Reuters the death toll was expected to rise.

&quot;Our focus is on rescue operations and saving lives. We will ensure strict action is taken against the people who are responsible for this incident,&quot; Mayor Nayana Pedhadiya said.

Television images showed a massive fire engulfing the TRP game zone and thick clouds of smoke emanating from the site. The entire structure was gutted in the blaze.

A police official at the local civil hospital said some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Read also:&nbsp;Forest fires raze parts of India amid heat, dry weather

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X that the local administration was working to provide assistance to those affected.

&quot;Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,&quot; Modi said in the post.

The district&#39;s chief fire officer, IV Kher, said firefighters had almost brought the fire under control.

&quot;The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,&quot; he told Reuters.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said an investigation into the incident had been handed to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and television reports said two people had been detained by Rajkot police in connection with the incident.]]>
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			<title>Fire at Lahore airport guts immigration system</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465892/fire-at-lahore-airport-guts-immigration-system</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465892/fire-at-lahore-airport-guts-immigration-system#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 24 18:00:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[talib.faridi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2465892</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two Hajj flights leave city manually, several other global ones disrupted]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire broke out at Lahore&rsquo;s Allama Iqbal International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday, disrupting the flight operations there, especially the global ones as even though the flames were doused soon enough, they severely affected the immigration system as preliminary reports suggest that they originated from one of the conveyor belts in the international departure lounge, quickly engulfing its counters.

Airports source said the fire rapidly destroyed the Federal Investigation Agency&rsquo;s (FIA) immigration system and counters. They added that the firefighters had to break the windows to gain entry there to put out the raging blaze.

Sources said the firefighters reached the airport an hour after the fire erupted.

The first two Hajj flights from the city were initially hit by delay because of the fire were sent off through manual immigration. However, at least 12 to 14 other flights scheduled to land in Lahore were either cancelled or diverted to Islamabad and Faisalabad airports.

The intending Hajj pilgrims were shifted out of the departure lounge at the time of the fire because of the build-up of smoke. In fact, a couple of them fell unconscious and taken to a hospital as the smoke made it difficult to breathe in the lounge. However, they later recovered and departed for their destination with the rest of the intending pilgrims.

Also read:&nbsp;Karachi Airport grapples with flight cancellations

According to a NOTAM issued by the Lahore airport, international flights from the Lahore airport were suspended for five hours.

This resulted in the cancellation of 30 international flights to and from the city.

Later, the duration of the suspension of international flights was extended till 10pm.

The international immigration system&rsquo;s (IMS) maintenance time at the Lahore airport has been extended till 10pm, a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added that the international operations would be able to start as soon as the IMS system was restored.

&ldquo;A notice has been issued for the information of international airlines.&rdquo;

The spokesperson said the Lahore airport was available for domestic and cargo operations as usual.

He continued that the situation at the airport was gradually returning to normal and no casualties were reported in the fire. However, there were conflicting reports about the resumption of domestic flights to and from the Lahore airport.

A preliminary report of the fire has been submitted to Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif.

Two senior CAA officials have been ordered to reach Lahore airport immediately.

The CAA additional director general and deputy director general immediately left for Lahore airport by road from Islamabad.

The sources said during the blaze at the Lahore airport, neither did the fire tenders reach there soon, nor were measures taken to deal with the situation in time.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also sought a report and ordered a thorough investigation into the fire at Lahore airport&rsquo;s immigration counters.

The minister ordered that the immigration counters should be made functional again as soon as possible.]]>
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			<title>Three siblings stabbed, set on fire by aunt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465216/three-siblings-stabbed-set-on-fire-by-aunt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465216/three-siblings-stabbed-set-on-fire-by-aunt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 04 May 24 19:33:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Tariq Ismail]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2465216</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victims’ mother blames financial dispute for attack]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three siblings were injured in a fire allegedly set by their maternal aunt in Chorhatta.

According to the police report, the victims&rsquo; mother accused her sister Amna Bibi of setting her three children on fire after sprinkling petrol on them because of a financial dispute.

The victims, eight-year-old Misbah, four-year-old Irfan and two-year-old Rizwan, were taken to the Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, from where Misbah was shifted to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan due to her critical condition.

The mother of the children told The Express Tribune the suspect was angry over a financial matter with their mother. She added &ldquo;When I went to work, Amna and the children were alone in the house&rdquo;.

One of the victims reported that the suspect attacked them with a knife and attempted to slit their throats.

Later, she set the bed on fire after sprinkling petrol, and locked the door of the room from outside.

According to the police, Regional Police Officer of Dera Ghazi Khan, Captain (retd) Sajjad Hasan Khan took immediate notice of the incident. He asked for a report on the incident and reached the teaching hospital to visit the injured. He also issued orders to form teams to arrest the suspect. The official said the criminals involved in such crimes do not deserve any lenience.

The police said they were carrying out raids to arrest the suspect.

Published in The Express Tribune May 5th, 2024]]>
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			<title>Copenhagen fire: Spire collapses as historic stock exchange engulfed by flames</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462797/copenhagen-fire-spire-collapses-as-historic-stock-exchange-engulfed-by-flames</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462797/copenhagen-fire-spire-collapses-as-historic-stock-exchange-engulfed-by-flames#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 24 12:41:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2462797</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Emergency services, Danish Chamber of Commerce employees and passers-by rushed to save historic artifacts from flames]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire ripped through Copenhagen&#39;s Old Stock Exchange, one of the Danish capital&#39;s best-known buildings, on Tuesday, engulfing its spire which collapsed in a scene reminiscent of the 2019 blaze at Paris&#39; Notre-Dame.

Emergency services, employees from the Danish Chamber of Commerce, including its CEO Brian Mikkelsen, and even passers-by were seen carrying large paintings away from the building in a race to save historic artefacts from the flames.

&quot;We are saving everything we possibly can,&quot; Copenhagen fire department chief Jakob Vedsted Andersen told reporters.

Denmark&#39;s National Museum sent 25 employees to the scene to help evacuate cultural artefacts and paintings, it said on X.

The historic building, whose spire was shaped as the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been under renovation and clad in scaffolding when the fire broke out.

Parts of the roof had collapsed and the fire spread to several floors of the building, Vedsted told reporters.

&quot;It&#39;s always sad to put out fires in old buildings,&quot; he said.

Read also:&nbsp;29 killed in fire at Istanbul nightclub undergoing renovations

Some 120 people were working to contain the fire but only around 40% of it was under control, Vedsted said, adding that the firefighting operation would go on for at least 24 hours.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, police said.

&quot;Horrible pictures from the Bourse. So sad. An iconic building that means a lot to all of us ... Our own Notre-Dame moment,&quot; Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen wrote on X.

Thick grey smoke rose above the city and sirens could be heard as emergency services were called to the site. Around 90 conscripts from the Royal Life Guards, an army unit, were helping cordon off and secure valuables, the military said.

&quot;I am very, very sad... At first I couldn&#39;t believe it was true,&quot; schoolteacher Elisabeth Handberg, 80, said, adding that she and her pupils had watched the smoke from their classroom window.

&quot;My fifth graders said &#39;it&#39;s been there since the time of King Christian IV and then it burns&#39;. They were also very touched by it,&quot; she added. &quot;I&#39;m hoping it will be rebuilt, it can&#39;t be any other way.&quot;

The Dutch Renaissance-style building no longer houses the Danish stock exchange, but serves as headquarters for the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

Dragons on the roof

The building was originally built to accommodate stalls where goods such as tea and spices were traded.

&quot;It was imagined that a lot of gold would be generated for Denmark and that&#39;s why they put dragons above it because they are known to guard gold,&quot; senior researcher at the National Museum of Denmark, Ulla Kjaer, told Reuters.

The spire also had three crowns at the top, symbolising the great kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, she added.

&quot;This spire is absolutely iconic and there is no other like it in the world,&quot; Kjaer said.

The presence of dragons on the roof had been seen as symbolically protecting the exchange from enemies, as well as from fire, the Chamber said on its website.

&quot;An important part of our architectural heritage was and still is in flames,&quot; King Frederik wrote in a post on Instagram. &quot;For generations, the characteristic dragon spire has helped to characterise Copenhagen as the &#39;city of towers&#39;.&quot;



Smoke billows following a fire at the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark. PHOTO: REUTERS

The scaffolding around the building made it harder for the emergency services to get through to the flames, while the copper roof was trapping the heat.

The nearby finance ministry was evacuated as a result of the fire, the police said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.

Copenhagen police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city.

The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which has owned the building since 1857, has worked on restoring it to the style of Denmark&#39;s King Christian IV, who had the building constructed in the 17th century.

&quot;400 years of Danish cultural heritage in flames,&quot; Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt wrote on X. &quot;The building is filled with art that tells a lot about our history, about who we are as a people,&quot; he told reporters.]]>
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			<title>29 killed in fire at Istanbul nightclub undergoing renovations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461386/29-killed-in-fire-at-istanbul-nightclub-undergoing-renovations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461386/29-killed-in-fire-at-istanbul-nightclub-undergoing-renovations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 24 14:36:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461386</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Cause of fire remains unknown, casualties among construction workers, say local authorities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The death toll has risen to 29 at a nightclub in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul after a fire broke out during renovation work in the venue, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Casualties occurred among construction workers at the nightclub where the blaze broke out on the minus-first and -second floors of a 16-story building in the Besiktas district of the city, the Istanbul Governorship announced in an official statement.

The specific cause of the fire remains unknown, but the statement said it originated from the renovation work.

Read also:&nbsp;Dutch nightclub hostage drama ends peacefully

Upon receiving the alert, firefighters, medical teams, and police swiftly arrived at the scene, with law enforcement securing the area.

Firefighters, with 31 vehicles and 86 personnel, quickly extinguished the flames and brought the situation under control.

&quot;Efforts by rescue teams are ongoing at the site of the incident,&quot; the statement added.]]>
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			<title>Three shops gutted in market blaze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458519/three-shops-gutted-in-market-blaze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458519/three-shops-gutted-in-market-blaze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 24 21:17:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2458519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Fire turns goods worth millions of rupees into ashes]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three shops were completely destroyed while four were partially damaged in a fire that broke out at a plastic and foam market, Iqbal Centre, near Jamia Cloth Market on MA Jinnah Road at around 9:30am on Tuesday. 

Police, Rangers, Fire Brigade, Sindh Emergency Rescue 1122, and officials from welfare organisations reached the spot. Due to the intensity of the flames, the fire brigade staff declared it a third-degree fire and called additional resources from other parts of the city. 

Traffic police swiftly closed the MA Jinnah Road and diverted the traffic to alternative routes during the morning rush hours.

The Fire Brigade and Sindh Emergency Rescue 1122 managed to douse the flames in about an hour, said Chief Fire Officer Ishtiaq Ahmed.

He said that the cash counter in one shop, containing money, was also destroyed. Ahmed said that the fire brigade responded to information, rushed to the site immediately and started the firefighting operation. 

This market had experienced a previous fire, resulting in the destruction of the entire market, prompting reinforcement calls from other stations. All 210 residential flats above the market were evacuated promptly.

The Chief Fire Officer mentioned that out of several hundred shops in the market, only three were completely burnt, while four were partially damaged. 

The fire brigade&#39;s timely response prevented further spread of the fire, which was primarily fueled by foam, resin, Samad bond, and other goods. 

A short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire, and a significant amount of foam was utilised to extinguish it. Fortunately, no casualty was reported in the incident. 

Rescue 1122 officer Iftikhar Ahmed reported that a fire alert was received at 9:50am, with response teams reaching the scene within ten to fifteen minutes. Upon arrival, the fire&#39;s intensity and smoke necessitated the use of special equipment to access and extinguish the flames. 

The affected shops primarily dealt with foam products, and it was noted that fire safety arrangements were lacking.

Senior Director KMC affirmed that all available resources were utilised to control the fire. An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire. He emphasised the absence of fire safety arrangements in the market, highlighting the need for improved safety measures.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2024.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>US airman sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457654/us-airman-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy-in-washington</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457654/us-airman-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-israeli-embassy-in-washington#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Feb 24 10:01:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2457654</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The man remains in critical condition]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A US military service member set himself on fire, in an apparent act of protest against the war in Gaza, outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

The man was transported to an area hospital after the fire was put out by US Secret Service officers, DC Fire and EMS posted online. The man remains in critical condition, a Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson said Sunday afternoon. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that the incident involved a active duty airman.

&quot;I will no longer be complicit in genocide,&quot; said the man, wearing military fatigues, in a video he broadcasted live over the internet, according to the New York Times.

He then doused himself in a clear liquid and set himself on fire, screaming &quot;Free Palestine,&quot; the Times reported.

Local police and Secret Service are investigating the incident.

Israel&#39;s embassy has been the target of continued protest against the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza has led to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests in the United States. The protests started after Oct. 7 when Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and seized 253 hostages in a cross-border attack.

Since then, Israeli forces have waged a military campaign against the coastal enclave, laying much of it to waste, with nearly 30,000 people dead, according to Palestinian health officials.

In December, a protester set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Western Australia in 'extreme' heat wave, raising bush fire risk</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453861/western-australia-in-extreme-heat-wave-raising-bush-fire-risk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453861/western-australia-in-extreme-heat-wave-raising-bush-fire-risk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jan 24 10:10:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2453861</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Warning comes after hundreds of firefighters earlier this month battled an out-of-control bush fire near Perth]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Parts of Western Australia were gripped on Saturday by an &quot;extreme&quot; heat-wave, raising the risk of bush fires in the vast state, the nation&#39;s weather forecaster said.

The Bureau of Meteorology had an &quot;extreme heat-wave warning&quot; in place on Saturday for the remote Pilbara and Gascoyne areas of Australia&#39;s largest state, warning temperatures there could hit high forties degrees Celsius over the weekend.

In the Pilbara mining town of Paraburdoo, about 1,500 km (930 miles) north of the state capital Perth, a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 degrees Fahrenheit) was forecast on Saturday, more than six degrees above the average January maximum, according to forecaster data. It was 42.7 C (108.8 F) there at 11:00 a.m (0300 GMT).

Australia&#39;s highest temperature on record of 50.7 C (123.2 F) was logged at the Pilbara&#39;s Onslow Airport on Jan. 13, 2022.

Read:&nbsp;Forest dept on &lsquo;red alert&rsquo; as fire concerns mount

Saturday&#39;s hot weather lifts the risk of bush fires in an already high-risk fire season amid an El Nino weather pattern, which is typically associated with extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts.

&quot;Very hot and dry conditions combined with fresh southerly winds and a fresh to strong west to southwesterly sea breeze will lead to elevated fire dangers on Saturday,&quot; the weather forecaster said on its website, regarding part of the Pilbara.

The warning comes after hundreds of firefighters earlier this month&nbsp;battled&nbsp;an out-of-control bush fire near Perth amid soaring temperatures, prompting evacuations.

Australia&#39;s last two fire seasons have been subdued compared with the 2019-2020 &quot;Black Summer&quot; of bush fires that destroyed an area the size of Turkey, killed 33 people, 3 billion animals and trillions of invertebrates.]]>
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			<title>Khanpur forests fire rages on</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453165/khanpur-forests-fire-rages-on</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453165/khanpur-forests-fire-rages-on#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jan 24 19:18:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yawar Hayat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2453165</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Local community calls on the forest officials to take swift action in extinguishing the fire]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire which broke out in the forests of Khanpur tehsil on Friday could not be extinguished until late Saturday night.

According to locals, youngsters from the nearby neighbourhood of Syedan Khitiran have been working hard to put out the fire since yesterday, but they have not been successful. As of right now, no casualties have been reported.

Forest department officials have not reached the site of the fire yet. Locals say that more than half of the forest has been converted into a pile of ash. The local community is calling on the forest officials to take swift action in extinguishing the fire.

Read:&nbsp;Forest fires ravage Kaghan Valley

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 promptly responded to the fire that had caught on in the mountains on Jabri Road. A fire unexpectedly broke out on the hills near Phallan Gali village on Jabri Road at night. However, the circumstances that led to the fire are unknown. Upon receiving the information, the firefighter team of Rescue 1122 arrived at the spot.

It took an hour of nonstop work to fully extinguish the fire as the darkness of the night made it challenging to extinguish the fire. The rescue operation helped save the lives of the nearby population.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>House fires snuff out two lives</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453078/house-fires-snuff-out-two-lives</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453078/house-fires-snuff-out-two-lives#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jan 24 21:01:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2453078</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Three-year-old girl among the victims; 9 injured]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Two people were killed and nine others were injured in two separate fires reported across the provincial metropolis. One of the deceased victims was a three-year-old girl.

The first incident was reported in a house in Badami Bagh on Friday. Reportedly, the residents had lit a fire to stave off the cold, which rapidly spread and engulfed the house. As a result, the inhabitants were trapped inside and failed to extinguish the blaze. 

Passersby called rescue teams and firefighters promptly reached the scene and extinguished the fire. They also evacuated the casualties and shifted them to Lahore Mayo Hospital and Shahdara Hospital for treatment. An unidentified three-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries. The other causalties have been identified as 70-year-old Muhammad Javed and 12-year-old Ghulam Dastgir.

The other incident was reported in a house in Hanif Park Jia Musa Shahdra. One fatality was reported, while two were injured in the incident. The third incident was reported in Shera Kot Ghazi chowk, where five people were injured when a cylinder exploded with a huge blast. 

Furthermore, three more fires were reported in the provincial capital. The cases were reported in houses situated in Gulberg and Canal Road and the third case was reported in Tasvero Wala Chowk Khayaban e Quaid Mansura. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these incidents.

Deaths and injuries caused by fires have increased amidst the chilling cold of Punjab&rsquo;s winter, reportedly due to unawareness and negligence. In the winter season, people use different means to produce heat and stave off the cold. 

Read:&nbsp;Infant dies in house fire

However, unfortunately they would ignore standard protocols and negligence would result in the loss of life. 

Earlier this week, four minor siblings were killed when a sub-standard gas cylinder exploded in a room on fifth floor of a building in Ichra. The children&rsquo;s father, Abbas, was a manual laborer and away on work when the incident took place. Meanwhile, the children&rsquo;s mother had just exited the building when the cylinder exploded.

The victims were inside a room, a portion of which was repurposed into a kitchen using a fiber sheet. All of a sudden, gas started leaking from the cylinder and it spread into the room and ignited. The fire engulfed the fiber sheet and other flammable items in the room. Eyewitness accounts stated that within a few minutes, the fire engulfed the whole room. The victims were trapped inside and succumbed to severe burn injuries. 

Rescue 1122 reported that in 2023, at least 20,000 fires were reported across the province. 

In July of last year, 10 members of a family died of suffocation after a fire erupted in a three-storey building in Taxali Gate.

Reportedly, the fire broke out at around 2am, the specific reasons of which are not known. The victims were asleep at that time. Three families were living in three rooms stacked one on top of the other. A neighbour said that he was asleep at his home when he heard people screaming for help.

He ran and reached outside their home. He saw flames erupting from their fridge and other household items. Other people in the area also reached the spot and tried to break the door using a hammer and other items but failed in their attempts. They alerted Rescue 1122.

As the fire broke out, the victims struggled for their life, climbing up to the upper portion of their home, but they suffocated to death.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>60 shanties gutted in massive fire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452198/60-shanties-gutted-in-massive-fire</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452198/60-shanties-gutted-in-massive-fire#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jan 24 20:29:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2452198</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Operation to control flames was a challenge for firefighters as most shanty houses were under the bridge]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A mysterious fire erupted in makeshift shanties beneath the Teen Hatti bridge on Thursday. 

Panicked residents fled with their children as the flames consumed dozens of shanties along with their belongings. Luckily, no casualties were reported.

Upon receiving the news, fire brigade personnel, along with a heavy police and Rangers contingents, rushed to the scene, cordoning off the area for rescuers. 

The incident caused a large crowd to gather, disrupting traffic and causing a massive gridlock.

Firefighters deployed a total of nine fire tenders to control the blaze. Shanties located under the bridge posed challenges for vehicle access, complicating the efforts to douse the flames. 

Read&nbsp;Over 80 shops gutted in mobile market blaze

The fire brigade was alerted around 6pm on Thursday, and after two hours of intense battle, they extinguished the conflagration, initiating the cooling process, which continued for some time. Residents at the scene alleged that the fire was deliberately set, pointing to previous attempts. They also mentioned the presence of drug addicts in the shanties. 

Some suspect the fire may have been ignited to combat rising cold. Strong winds propelled the flames, quickly engulfing the shanties. Fire brigade officials could not immediately determine the cause of the fire or the exact number of shanties affected. 

SHO Supermarket police station Aslam Bhatti stated that there were over 200 shanties at the location, with around 60 shanties and their household goods reduced to ashes, while others were spared from the blaze.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>41 lives lost, 98 injured in numerous fire incidents</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451587/41-lives-lost-98-injured-in-numerous-fire-incidents</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451587/41-lives-lost-98-injured-in-numerous-fire-incidents#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 23 20:54:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sajid Rauf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2451587</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tragically, this year marks not only significant financial losses but also loss of lives in various fire incidents]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[There has been a notable enhancement in fire safety standards throughout the outgoing year at commercial buildings, yet 2023 witnessed tragic outcomes. 

A total of 41 lives were lost, and 98 individuals suffered burn injuries in numerous fire incidents, resulting in significant financial losses. 

The Fire Brigade Department&#39;s annual report disclosed over 2,150 fire incidents, with January recording the highest at 356 and August and September experiencing the least with 100 and 103 incidents, respectively.

Saddar Fire Station topped the list with 186 complaints, followed by Central Fire Station (154), Nazimabad Fire Station (152), and others. Notably, Emergency Rescue Hawke&#39;s Bay Fire Station and Cattle Colony Fire Station received no complaints due to their dysfunctional status. The report highlighted the lowest volume of fire complaints at Superhighway and New Truck Stand fire stations.

Tragically, this year marked not only significant financial losses but also the loss of lives in various fire incidents. Notably, on November 25, 2023, a fire erupted in RJ Shopping Mall, Gulistan Johar, resulted in 11 deaths and burn injuries to 35 people. 

Read&nbsp;Gas cylinder blast triggers fire

On December 6, Arshi Mall witnessed a fatal fire resulting in five deaths, while April 12 saw a devastating industrial area fire that claimed the lives of four firefighters and injuries to 15.

Two die in Bin Qasim factory blaze

A fire erupted in a Bin Qasim Town factory, claiming the lives of two individuals and injuring one. The flames, originating from an unknown cause in a steel company, quickly consumed the facility, visible from a considerable distance. The factory management promptly alerted the fire brigade, deploying five fire tenders that battled the blaze for an hour, ultimately bringing it under control. Tragically, two employees, Jameel and Abid, lost their lives during the incident, while another worker sustained critical injuries. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined. Responding swiftly, the police, rangers, and rescue teams arrived. The deceased, both residents of Bin Qasim, were identified as employees of the affected factory. Their bodies were transported to Jinnah Hospital, where grieving relatives declined media interviews. After necessary legal procedures, the police handed over the bodies to the bereaved heirs.

Separately, a fire in a Korangi Industrial Area towel factory, caused by a transformer explosion, added to the series of incidents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and firefighting operations were underway. This incident followed another fire in Saddar&#39;s mobile market earlier in the week, emphasising authorities&#39; ongoing challenges in managing fire emergencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Over 80 shops gutted in mobile market blaze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451261/over-80-shops-gutted-in-mobile-market-blaze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451261/over-80-shops-gutted-in-mobile-market-blaze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Dec 23 21:05:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yaseen Jabalpuri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2451261</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[No loss of life reported; narrow lanes, panicked shopkeepers hinder firefighting operation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Small traders and vendors of Saddar mobile market were devastated as an inferno ravaged through the narrow lanes of the bazaar in the early hours of Tuesday turning to ashes more than 80 shops destroying inventory worth millions of rupees.

No loss of life was reported in the fire that raged through Shah Jahan Market and Star Mobile Market located on Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar area in the early hours of Tuesday.

It took fire officers more than five hours to douse the flames raging in the catacomb of lanes of market housing small shops and kiosks.

According to a fire officer, they faced difficulties in extinguishing the fire due to the narrow lanes of the market and the behaviour of the shopkeepers.

To rub salt on burns, looters descended on the bazaar haukling away everything they could grab. 

Electronics Market Association President Rizwan Irfan said that the fire brigade staff did a timely and very good job, but due to lack of water and masks and other equipment used in fire fighting, it took time to extinguish the fire and they faced difficulties.

Initially, two fire tenders reached the spot on the report of the fire and the crew started extinguishing the fire. However, more firefighters were called to the spot considering the severity of the fire. 

The fire brigade staff brought the fire under control after more than five hours of struggle, after which the cooling process continued for another two hours. Police, Rangers, Chippa and Edhi volunteers also reached the spot on receiving the information about the fire. 

Irfan said the affected markets have 470 shops on the ground floors and more than 800 shops on the first and second floors combined. 

He maintained that shops sell mobile phone, tablet parts, and accessories in wholesale and retail. He told that the shopkeepers also have warehouses on the second floor. 

Irfan said though fire brigade arrived on time, they had no masks or lights to reach the first and second floors in time due to thick smoke.

He said that the fire brigade staff also faced shortage of water due to which the work of extinguishing the fire did not continue constantly. A pause in the fire fighting process reignited the flames. Irfan said that the shopkeepers reached the market on the report of the fire and tried to salvage whatever they could from the shops. 

Looters raid in dark

Meanwhile, robbers looted two cars loaded with mobile phone accessories near Gurmandir. Traders were taking home the goods they had salvaged from the burnt market, when robbers took everything away at gunpoint.

A swarm of looters descended on the burnt markets and hauled away everything they could grab. Police say that it was hard to identify who was shopkeeper salvaging his goods and who was looter. 

Traders told The Express Tribune that they had fire extinguishers installed throughout the market, but the fire broke out when the market was closed due to which there was no one to use these devices. 

According to the fire officer present at the spot, the locks of the shops had to be cut to extinguish the fire as the fire was burning inside the closed shops. 

He said that every shopkeeper wanted that the fire in his shop should be extinguished first for which they not only misbehaved with the fire fighters but also assaulted them. 

Regarding Irfan&#39;s comment that firefighters had no masks and there was shortage of water, the fire officer said, masks and all other such equipment are present in every fire brigade vehicle and there was no shortage of water. Rather, the work continued to be obstructed due to panicked shopkeepers.

Regarding the fire, he said that overall, the fire was brought under control with the help of 10 fire tenders, two bowsers and four water tankers. He said that according to preliminary information, 80 to 100 shops and their goods were burnt to ashes in which goods worth millions of rupees were burnt. 

He said that per initial reports faulty wiring caused the inferno. Fire spread from the first floor up to other floor through electrical wires. If the wires had been properly installed, the fire might not have reached the top. There was no loss of life as a result of the fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Fire destroys forest on Kishk mountains in Kohlu</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450884/fire-destroys-forest-on-kishk-mountains-in-kohlu</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450884/fire-destroys-forest-on-kishk-mountains-in-kohlu#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 23 20:46:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2450884</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Large wooded area is badly affected in forest fire as hundreds of trees and bushes are reduced to ashes]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A huge fire erupted in a forest in the mountains of Kishk, some 20 km away from the Kohlu town, engulfing a large area on Friday.

The deputy Commissioner Kohlu confirmed the fire in the mountain forests and said that the fire has spread over at least four kilometer area. Soon after receiving information about the fire in the jungle on mountains, the quick response troops of levies and concerned officials rushed to the site despite difficult terrain to bring the fire under control.

Levies and other officials started efforts to control the huge fire and first saved the properties and human lives in the absence of forest guards.

Read&nbsp;Fire department in tatters

&ldquo;The personnel of QRF succeeded in putting out the huge fire after hectic efforts late on Friday night,&rdquo; deputy commissioner Kohlu district said.

According to reports, a large wooded area was badly affected in the forest fire as hundreds of trees and bushes were reduced to ashes.

The cause of the fire was not known so far. &ldquo;A team of senior officials of forest and levies has been assigned to ascertain the cause of fire in the area,&rdquo; officials said, adding that in the light of the report further action would be taken if someone was found involved in a fire incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Report on RJ Mall fire incident submitted</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449859/report-on-rj-mall-fire-incident-submitted</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449859/report-on-rj-mall-fire-incident-submitted#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Dec 23 20:25:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449859</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Builder, management and A&amp;I Foundation held responsible for the inferno]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry committee of the police constituted to investigate the horrific fire incident at RJ Mall on Rashid Minhas Road that killed 11 people 18 days ago has submitted its report to the Karachi police chief AIG Khadim Hussain Rind.

The four-member investigation team headed by DIG East Ghulam Azfar Mahesar included SSP East Irfan Bahadur, SSP Investigation East Saud Magsi and SP Gulshan Iqbal Ayaz Hussain.

The panel placed the onus on the builder, the management of the building, and A&amp;I Foundation whose office was situated in the building.&nbsp; 11 people died of asphyxia during the inferno.

The cause of the fire was faulty and rundown wiring, it said. The report stated that the fire in the shopping mall erupted due to sparking in substandard electrical wiring and fire spread due to poor quality of electrical and false ceiling installations.

The fire broke out in the cafeteria on the fourth floor. Severe damage was caused in the mall due to the lack of fire exit and firefighting.

Regulatory oversight 

The report further noted that the builder did not get the Completion Certificate which is issued by the regulatory body after survey and verification of compliance with the building bye laws.

The Cantonment Board Faisal also did not assure the completion of the building as per the building plan it had passed and verify the existence of a fire safety system, the document stated. 

The elevator on the fourth floor of the building was sealed off for better air conditioning.

Read&nbsp;RJ Mall shopkeepers stage sit-in

Recommendations

The report recommends legal action against the shopping mall owner, management and A&amp;I Foundation.

The document suggested that substandard buildings should be sealed immediately. Electrical wirings and installations should be made according to international standards.

In the report, compensation was recommended for the heirs of the deceased and those injured in the incident.

Utilities and civic bodies 

The investigation report recommended that the utilities should not give electricity and gas connection to the buildings unless they provide completion certificate.

The relevant bodies and boards should issue clearance certificates after thorough inspection of the building. Moreover, the report proposed making mandatory the approval of all buildings by the fire department. Fire drills should be conducted twice a month in residential and commercial buildings. 

The report further stated that the investigation team investigated the officials of 12 institutions. The owners of the building, the security in-charge, the administration and the families of the deceased were interviewed during the inquiry. 

Reports of Cantonment Board, K-Electric and KMC Fire Department were also included in the investigation. Experts from NED University faculty of architecture also gave their opinion in the report. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>RJ Mall shopkeepers stage sit-in</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449746/rj-mall-shopkeepers-stage-sit-in</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449746/rj-mall-shopkeepers-stage-sit-in#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Dec 23 20:30:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449746</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shopkeepers term closure of their shops unjustified]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The shopkeepers of RJ Mall, which was severely affected by a huge fire, escalated their 17-day protest into a sit-in on Main Rashid Minhas Road, demanding the reopening of sealed shops on lower floors of the affected building. 

The demonstration led to a road closure, hindered the flow of traffic. During the sit-in, shopkeepers, including men and women, voiced their demands, emphasising the immediate opening of their shops. Despite talks with SSP, the situation escalated and blockade continued. 

The shopkeepers termed the closure of their shops unjustified. Danish Tareen, head of the RJ Mall Action Committee, maintained that the inferno affected the third and fourth floors, while there are 750 safe shops on lower floors which have been unjustifiably sealed. 

Read&nbsp;Three more remanded to police custody in RJ Mall fire case

The police tried to detain some of the protesting shopkeepers, but the demonstrators escaped the attempts by the police.

Sharjeel Goplani, head of All Karachi City Traders Alliance, mentioned a meeting with Additional Commissioner II and assurances from Cantonment Board representatives and Assistant Commissioner Gulshan Iqbal. Following these assurances, the shopkeepers ended their sit-in and returned to their protest camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Farmer’s wheat set on fire for allowing daughter to ride bike</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449648/farmers-wheat-set-on-fire-for-allowing-daughter-to-ride-bike</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449648/farmers-wheat-set-on-fire-for-allowing-daughter-to-ride-bike#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Dec 23 07:00:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449648</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Zainab goes to her high school in Ratodero on bike and her confidence is disliked in village']]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The wheat storage facility of a man in Ratodero, town of Larkana district, has been allegedly burnt because he not only allowed his daughter to obtain education, but also to ride on a motorcycle with her younger brothers to school.

The incident took place in village Zangeja, within the limits of Lashari police station on Sunday.

The SSP Larkana took notice of the incident and directed the local police to take action on the matter.

Read&nbsp;&lsquo;Women empowerment fuels economic uplift&rsquo;

Aushaq Zangejo alleged that he was threatened by the villagers to stop his daughter Zainab Zangejo from riding the motorbike but he did not pay heed to their warnings.

The girl told the local media that she goes to her high school in Ratodero on the bike and her confidence is disliked in the village.]]>
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			<title>Arshi Mall blaze shatters dreams</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449502/arshi-mall-blaze-shatters-dreams</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449502/arshi-mall-blaze-shatters-dreams#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Dec 23 20:22:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ayesha Khan Ansari]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449502</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A resident who recently moved into his flat lost his lifetime savings]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[It&#39;s been four days since a devastating fire that engulfed the commercial-residential building at Ayesha Manzil, a resident Kashif, who purchased his apartment after 15 years of hard work, now faces the harsh reality of having lost everything to the flames.

The blaze at Arshi Shopping Mall and Arshi Heights at Ayesha Manzil not only resulted in the tragic loss of five lives but also unveiled heart-wrenching stories. 

Kashif, a 42-year-old resident and pharmaceutical company employee, had dedicated years to acquire his own apartment. Despite recently experiencing the overwhelming joy of moving into his flat, all his dreams turned to ashes last Wednesday.

Residing in flat number 114 on the first floor, Syed Kashif had furnished his new home with a split airconditioner, furniture, microwave oven, refrigerator, and more including a new laptop computer and many expensive items, he had purchased for his sister&#39;s marriage, just months before the fire struck. The merciless flames spared nothing. Although he survived, Kashif&#39;s right eye was affected as he narrowly escaped from beneath a burning door.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Kashif shared that everything in his house, was burnt to ashes. 

Legal and academic papers, along with valuable data on the laptop, were lost. Kashif now wonders if the government will provide assistance or if he should sleep amid the dust of his shattered dreams. 

He appeals to the government authorities, urging that residences without proper fire safety arrangements should not be allowed.

Read&nbsp;Three more remanded to police custody in RJ Mall fire case

Ahmar, a representative of the residential building union, refuted claims of a third-degree fire, asserting that the SBCA cleared the building of further hazards. While affected families prepare to return home, a comprehensive report is underway. 

Electricity and gas will be restored to unaffected flats in about two days, excluding the power meters of the affected families. 

The union officer laments the lack of government assistance, emphasising the need for immediate financial support. Sindh&#39;s caretaker chief minister has promised compensation for the damage. Out of 72 flats, three were completely destroyed, and several others were partially affected.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Three more remanded to police custody in RJ Mall fire case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449500/three-more-remanded-to-police-custody-in-rj-mall-fire-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449500/three-more-remanded-to-police-custody-in-rj-mall-fire-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Dec 23 20:22:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449500</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Accused asserts they were delivering a file to Hasan when they were arrested]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Judicial Magistrate East has remanded three more accused to police custody in RJ Mall fire case.

The court also issued notices to relevant parties regarding a petition seeking the exclusion of these three accused from the case.

Police arrested three suspects, including the son of the absconding builder, and retrieved the DVR. 

Among the eight presented accused were Hasan Dhoni, the builder&#39;s son, Hasher, and Yawar, along with Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Imran, Faizan Raza, Sultan Salim, and Muhammad Abid Shah. 

The investigating officer reported significant progress, stating that three suspects were apprehended while attempting to destroy crucial evidence, including the mall&#39;s DVR and pertinent documents.

During the court proceedings, the accused asserted they were delivering a file to Hasan when they were arrested. 

The public prosecutor underscored the gravity of the incident, emphasising the loss of 11 lives and asserting that no leniency would be granted to any responsible party. 

Read Five detained in shopping mall fire case

Advocate Amir Mansoob argued that Dhoni, the detained son of the builder, had no connection to the incident or the shopping mall. 

The court inquired about the missing DVR, and the public prosecutor claimed it was recovered from Dhoni. The defence contested this, filing a plea under section 63 to exclude the name of the accused. Expressing displeasure at the disparate treatment by police officials, the court remarked that investigations should precede such applications. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Fire incidents continue in city</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449420/fire-incidents-continue-in-city</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449420/fire-incidents-continue-in-city#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 23 21:10:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449420</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Medicine warehouse, used clothing depot gutted]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A fire erupted in a medicine warehouse situated atop a two-storey building in Denso Hall, Khori Garden, Medicine Market. 

Swift action by the fire brigade, alerted, averted a potential disaster.

Fire brigade officials reported that after an hour-long battle, they extinguished the flames, preventing the spread to adjacent buildings. 

There were no casualties, although the medicines and stored goods in the warehouse were consumed by the fire. The immediate cause of the fire remains undetermined.

In a separate incident, a blaze erupted in used clothing warehouse near Niazi Hotel in Ittihad Town. 

Timely response from police, Edhi Foundation volunteers, and the fire brigade contained the fire after an hour-long effort.

Used clothing inventory, including denim jeans, suffered damage, though no lives were lost. 

Read:&nbsp;Fire-wrecked building reparable, officials say

The fire brigade managed to salvage a significant portion of the jeans clothes during the operation. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are yet to be assessed.

Fire department releases report on Arshi Mall fire

The fire department of the KMC has released its preliminary report about the fire in Arshi Shopping Centre.

According to the report, the building did not have the emergency exit, fire alarm, and exit signs. The cause of the fire could not be known so far, the report said.

The fire incident was reported at 5.41pm and in one minute (at 5.42pm) the department dispatched the firefighting squad. 

Two apartments on the second floor of the building were damaged while one flat on the third floor burnt completely. The blaze destroyed 169 shops on the ground floor. However, 120 shops on the ground floor and 30 on the mezzanine floor were saved from burning, the report added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Fair investigation of RJ Mall inferno demanded</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449167/fair-investigation-of-rj-mall-inferno-demanded</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449167/fair-investigation-of-rj-mall-inferno-demanded#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 23 20:19:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Nasir Butt]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449167</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court seeks report from IO at next hearing, extends remand of suspects]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Judicial Magistrate East has extended remand of the accused in RJ Mall fire case by three days.

Defence Counsel Amir Mansoob Advocate said that the investigating officer (IO) should investigate the case honestly. &quot;Till date the IO does not know who the owner of the building is. The person who is being accused is not actually the culprit,&quot; Mansoob Advocate argued.

After completing the remand, the police produced the arrested five accused in the court.

Liaqat Ali Khan Gabol Advocate, the lawyer of two accused, stated that reconciliation efforts are being made with the relatives of the deceased. They are also ready to compensate the relatives. Police are not cooperating with them. The affidavits of the relatives were also submitted by the lawyer of the accused.

The public prosecutor stated that one accused in the case, Arif Dhoni, is absconding.

Mansoob stated that Arif Dhoni has nothing to do with the burnt property. He appealed to the court to ask why Arif is being named in the case. 

Aamir maintained that he has no objection to interrogate Arif who does not even have possession of the property.

Gabol stated that the statement of the relatives of victims should be recorded under Section 164. 

The court inquired whether the heirs approached the police for a statement. The investigating officer (IO) said that one of the heirs has approached for the statement. 

The public prosecutor stated that the investigation is still going on, new accused will also be included and the innocent will be freed.

The court asked the public prosecutor whether the investigation is still pending. The public prosecutor stated that documents should be collected, those responsible should be arrested, and the accused should be punished. 

The court directed the investigating officer to conduct the investigation in a transparent manner. The court ordered the investigating officer to record the statements of the relatives. The court remarked that the statements of the relatives should be recorded outside the courtroom in front of the lawyer of the accused.

The court adjourned the hearing till December 9 and sought a progress report from the investigating officer on the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Mall blaze ignites traffic chaos</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449166/mall-blaze-ignites-traffic-chaos</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449166/mall-blaze-ignites-traffic-chaos#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 23 20:19:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[munawar.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2449166</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Onlookers stopped by affected building, capturing videos with mobile phones]]>
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				<![CDATA[Massive traffic jam left many commuters stuck on the road as the city experienced its second shopping mall fire incident within 11 days, this time at Arshi Shopping Mall near Ayesha Manzil. 

Last month, on November 25, a tragic fire at RJ Shopping Mall in Rashid Minhas Road, Gulistan Jauhar, claimed the lives of 11 office workers, including the software house owner.

Just 11 days after this incident, a devastating fire erupted at Arshi Shopping Mall situated near the Ayesha Manzil in Federal B Area. 

Fire brigade authorities categorised this fire as a Level-3 fire, prompting the mobilisation of firefighting vehicles from across the city. After hours of rigorous efforts, the fire brigade managed to contain the fire, following which the cooling and search processes continued till late night. The fire also affected the four-storey residential flats located above the mall&#39;s mezzanine floor.

Traffic flow disrupted

The fire&#39;s impact on the busy Shahrae Pakistan caused significant disruptions to traffic flow. The ensuing traffic jam led to long lines of vehicles, compounding the challenges faced by ordinary citizens. Many onlookers stopped by the affected building, capturing videos with their mobile phones. Consequently, the traffic congestion not only affected Shahrae Pakistan but also spilled into neighboring areas, causing severe difficulties for commuters.

Emergency at hospitals 

Responding to the incident at Arshi Shopping Mall near Ayesha Manzil, Sindh Caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz declared an emergency at nearby hospitals, including Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Civil Hospital.

Read&nbsp;Three die as fire engulfs Karachi mall

As reported by the spokesperson of the Sindh Health Department, the bodies of three victims who succumbed to burns in the fire were transferred to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Additionally, two injured persons were admitted to the Burns Ward of Civil Hospital. One of the victims, with 100% burns, remains in an extremely critical condition, while the second, with minor injuries, received immediate medical attention. The Medical Superintendent of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital confirmed the identification of one of the deceased as 30-year-old Ghulam Raza.

KE takes preventive measure

Spokesperson KE stated that Power supply to Arshi Mall and its surrounding areas was immediately suspended in line with safety protocols upon receiving information about the incident. K-Electric staff remained present on site to extend maximum support to rescue teams.

Inquiry ordered

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressing sorrow and concern over the fire incident, sought a detailed report of the incident from the relevant authorities.

Sindh Interim CM Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar in a statement ordered Karachi commissioner to form a committee and submit report fixing responsibility of the fire incident. He expressed profound grief on the loss of life and property in the tragic incident.

Governor Kamran Tessori visited the affected Arshi Mall. Expressing sorrow oved the great loss, he lauded the erfforts of the fire fighters and rescue workers. He said it was necessary identify the causes leading to the fire to prevent such incidents in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Fire warning on PIA flight triggers emergency landing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448728/fire-warning-on-pia-flight-triggers-emergency-landing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448728/fire-warning-on-pia-flight-triggers-emergency-landing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 02 Dec 23 19:00:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448728</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Madina-bound flight safely diverted back to Karachi Airport's runway]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi to Madina encountered a fire warning in one of its engines shortly after take-off on Saturday, prompting an emergency landing.

According to sources, a Boeing 777 aircraft, operating as flight PK-743 from Karachi&#39;s Jinnah Terminal Airport to Madina, encountered a warning signal indicating a fire in the engine soon after departing.

The captain, responding swiftly, attempted to manage the situation using the onboard fire extinguishing system.

As a safety precaution, one of the engines was shut down, and an emergency was declared for a runway landing.

Requesting immediate assistance, the captain contacted air traffic controllers, seeking permission for an emergency landing. Subsequently, the aircraft was safely diverted back to Karachi Airport&#39;s runway.

Read also:&nbsp;FBR rolls back decision to freeze PIA`s bank accounts

Upon the plane&#39;s landing, a prompt response from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and PIA Engineering teams ensued. Despite the initial concern, subsequent inspections conducted by PIA Engineering and CAA Air Ordnance found no evidence of an actual fire.

PIA&#39;s spokesperson confirmed receiving a fire warning in one of the engines following the departure of PIA flight PK-743 from Karachi to Madina. As per protocol, the fire suppression system was used, necessitating the aircraft&#39;s return to Karachi.

He said that standard procedures following such an event include conducting tests on the captain.

While 92 passengers opted to get off the plane and return home, the remaining passengers were accommodated in hotels.

Initially scheduled for a 5:30 pm departure from Madina, the flight was delayed by four hours, taking off at 9:30 pm. Due to the aircraft&#39;s unresolved issue, an alternate aircraft facilitated the rescheduled flight from Karachi to Madina.]]>
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			<title>Forest fire imperils wildlife in Soon Valley</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448212/forest-fire-imperils-wildlife-in-soon-valley</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448212/forest-fire-imperils-wildlife-in-soon-valley#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 23 20:02:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Saeed Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448212</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Concerns arise over recurring incidents, involvement of timber mafia]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A devastating fire, spanning several kilometres, erupted in Dhadharke area, posing a severe threat to the local wildlife.

Despite efforts by Rescue 1122 Nowshera, the fire has rapidly spread over kilometres.

The region witnesses mysterious fires annually, impacting the lush greenery that attracts both visitors and diverse bird species. The verdant mountains usually ensure pleasant weather, even during the summer months.

Expressing concern, Nowshera resident Malik Umar Awan questioned whether this recurring catastrophe in the mountains of Soon Valley is the result of natural causes or the connivance of forest department staff.

Native to Nowshera, Malik Tariq lamented the regularity of fire incidents in these mountains, leading to the tragic loss of animals, birds, and engulfing nearby residences. The valley and its surroundings are known for their breath-taking landscapes and greenery.

Malik Mehboob Awan, a resident of Dhadharke, raised suspicions about the involvement of the timber mafia, alleging that they orchestrate forest fires to conceal illegal activities and to benefit forest department officials financially.

The deliberate burning of trees not only harms the environment but also affects young trees.

Read:&nbsp;Mangrove forest near Manora felled

Residents living in proximity to these forests often find their homes in the line of fire. Despite numerous charges filed by the police, no arrests have been made in connection to these events.

Mehboob Awan urged the forest department officers to conduct regular monitoring of the forests to prevent unauthorised tree cutting and fires.

Forest department representatives assured that they are making every possible effort to apprehend those causing harm to the forests and take legal action against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Fire-hit plaza lacked emergency exits</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448225/fire-hit-plaza-lacked-emergency-exits</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448225/fire-hit-plaza-lacked-emergency-exits#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 23 20:55:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448225</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Fire brigade report says asphyxia, rather than burns, caused 11 deaths]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Karachi Metropolitan Fire Brigade Department of Baldia Town has released its investigative report on the fire incident at a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road. The report reveals alarming findings.

According to the report, the six-story shopping center lacked emergency exits, and there were no safety measures in place. The building did not have a backup power system in case of emergencies, and there were no illuminated signs indicating evacuation routes during the emergency. The report further states that at the time of the incident, 11 individuals lost their lives, and two hundred shops were affected.

Read&nbsp;Preposterous to blame KMC for fire, says Mayor Wahab

&nbsp;

The report highlights that the lack of a ventilation system in the mall led to smoke-filled conditions, contributing to fatalities due to asphyxiation rather than direct exposure to the fire. The Fire Brigade worked to control the fire, receiving the alert about the incident within twenty-nine minutes after it started. The report has been submitted to the higher authorities for further action.

SP Investigation East Amir Saud Mugsi, Member of the Police Investigation Committee, visited the site on Monday. Later, while talking to media representatives he said that an investigation and fact-finding committee headed by DIG East has been formed to investigate the cause of fire. He mentioned that an engineer has also been included in the committee on the directives of DIG East. He said that many things were observed during the visit which the police will include in their report.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Shopping plaza inferno case registered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448112/shopping-plaza-inferno-case-registered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448112/shopping-plaza-inferno-case-registered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Nov 23 20:36:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448112</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIR invokes charges of culpable homicide, criminal negligence]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first information report (FIR) of the horrific fire at RJ Shopping Mall on Rashid Minhas Road has been registered at Sharae Faisal police station invoking serious charges, including culpable homicide and criminal negligence causing damage.

The builders of the shopping mall, those who approved the building map, the institution responsible for issuing an NOC despite defective material, the shopping mall management, and fire brigade, have been nominated in the FIR.

The FIR has been registered on the complaint of police Sub Inspector Sadaruddin Mirani under Sections 322, 436, 427, 288 and 34/285.

The FIR states that a fire broke out in RJ Shopping Mall at 5am, which engulfed the entire building. People trapped inside rushed to the stairs and elevator to save their lives. Several people sustained burn injuries due to the fire&#39;s heat. They were transported to hospitals. Many of those with severe injuries died during treatment.

&quot;The building of the shopping mall had no fire extinguishers and no emergency exit,&quot; states the FIR. &quot;It is strongly suspected that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.&quot;

Preliminary investigation reveals that the building map had been approved without the firefighting clearance. The building had been constructed with the collusion of officers of civic agencies in violation of building laws and subpar materials had been used in the structure that caused so many casualties.

Committee launches probe

A special investigation committee, headed by DIG East Ghulam Azfar Mahiser and also including an associate professor of architecture from NED University, visited the badly gutted plaza on Sunday.

DIG Mahiser said that the current focus of their probe is on whether the building was constructed after a formal approval from the competent authority or, if there were any violation post-approval.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2023.]]>
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