Pakistan News: A major accident took place in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi late Saturday night. A massive fire broke out in Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall here, killing at least three people. More than a dozen people have been injured in this accident. Police and rescue officials have confirmed that the fire engulfed dozens of shops in the mall.
Police and rescue team officials said that as soon as information about the fire was received, the fire brigade and rescue teams reached the spot at around 10 pm. The incident took place at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road, a major wholesale market. There are shops of home decor items, clothes, toys and electronics. The main reason for the rapidly spreading fire is said to be clothing and household items.
Shopkeepers were closing their shops
According to local media reports, most of the shopkeepers were closing their shops or had already left at the time of the fire. If this accident had happened during the day, there could have been huge loss of life. Mohammad Ahsan, a shopkeeper, said, “I was telling the customers that the shop was closing when I saw a fire at gate number five. We tried to extinguish the fire, but could not control the fire with extinguishers and soon the fire spread to the entire building.”
The fire spread so fast that the rescue operation faced many challenges. The fire brigade sent several fire engines and ambulances to the spot. Some reports claimed that the fire brigade was delayed in arriving and there was a shortage of water, although officials have denied such reports.
This incident has happened when the previous day, huge damage was caused due to fire in containers filled with batteries at Karachi Port Trust. Such fire incidents are common in Karachi, as most buildings lack fire safety systems and rescue equipment.
The administration has announced to start investigation after completely controlling the fire. The traders affected by this accident have suffered huge financial losses. Local leaders and officials have expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and directed to mobilize all resources for the treatment of the injured.