According to initial reports, the fire started in the building’s generator (Photo: Screen grab).
Karachi: 10 people were killed and several injured in the fire that broke out in a commercial building on Rashid Minhas Road in Shahr Quaid, who have been shifted to the hospital.
According to Express News, the fire in the commercial building has spread to three to four floors, which destroyed dozens of shops. As a precautionary measure, the electricity supply to nearby buildings has been suspended and rescue operations have been started.
The fire brigade officials initially said that there was a fire in the generator placed on the roof of the shopping mall. , trying to put out the fire with the help of a bowser and a snorkel.
There are reports of many more people trapped in the building, who are being rescued by rescue workers. So far, more than 35 people have been rescued, some of whom were taken to hospital in an unconscious state.
According to the Jinnah Hospital administration, the bodies of 8 people who died in the shopping mall at Johar Mor have been brought, out of which 2 have been identified as Karim Bakhsh and Muhammad Younis. 3 people injured in the incident have been brought to Jinnah Hospital. On the other hand, one body was brought to Civil Hospital Burns Ward while one body was brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Talking to the media, DC East Altaf Shaikh said that the fire has almost been brought under control. He said that the fire broke out on the second floor sometime during the night, which later engulfed the third and fourth floors as well. Due to the smoke, the rescue workers faced difficulties in the operation.
He said that there was no fire extinguishing system in the 6-storey building. The building is closed from all sides while there is no proper arrangement of ventilation. He said that the fire in the generator is not true.
Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Justice (R) Maqbool Baqir has expressed deep sorrow over the death of 6 people during the fire in the shopping center. Taking notice of the incident, he has directed to speed up relief operations.
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