Three people died after a fire broke out near Ayesha Manzil in Pakistan’s Karachi Federal B Area on Wednesday, reported Dawn, citing police and rescue services.
Three people were killed after a fire broke out at the Arshi Shopping Centre located near Ayesha Manzil in Karachi’s Federal B Area on Wednesday, according to police and rescue services.
The blaze reportedly broke out at the Arshi Shopping Centre in Karachi and damaged vehicles parked near the building, while there was also a traffic jam in the area.
Footage aired on television showed black smoke billowing into the sky as flames engulfed the structure. Firefighters could also be seen attempting to douse the bright orange flames.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab took to X, and said, “Third dead body” had been found, adding, “Rescue operation still continues. I have been informed of 2 casualties so far, however will give further confirmation. I am present myself at site.”
“Fire brigade team is present on the ground to deal with the fire situation at Ayesha Manzil. Snorkel is also present on site to evacuate people from the roof if required. Will keep everyone posted,” he added.
In another post, he stated, “Rescue operation continues as people are being evacuated safely from the building. I can so far confirm that two people with severe burn injuries have been moved to the Civil Hospital Burns Ward. No dead bodies have been found as of yet; however, a search is being made. Will keep everyone posted.”
Rescue operation continues as people are being evacuated safely from the building. I can so far confirm that 2 people with severe burn injuries have been moved to Civil Hospital Burns Ward. No bead bodies found as yet however, search is being made. Will keep everyone posted https://t.co/tulDHAALJc
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) December 6, 2023
Meanwhile, Sindh Rescue 1122 director Abid Shaikh said that a rescue operation was underway, as reported by Dawn.
“This is a third category fire, the whole building was in flames,” he said, adding that the building had a ground floor, a mezzanine floor and four more residential floors.
Jauharabad Station House Officer Sudeer Bhayo said that eight fire tenders were working on extinguishing the blaze, adding that the flames had been controlled “to some extent”.
Fire brigade department official Humayun Khan further stressed that the fire had spread from the ground floor “all the way till the fourth floor”.
Moreover, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed grief at the state of affairs in the city, according to Dawn.
“Today, there will be losses worth millions due to this fire and the people living in this city will bear them,” he said.
He emphasised that officials always traded blame for such incidents, whereas people had to suffer.
Later, he called on the Karachi mayor to take responsibility and find out the culprit behind the fire.
“But how can it happen that we keep trading blame and the residents keep bearing their losses,” he said. He further said that he was on his way to visit the scene of the fire even though it did not fall within his domain.
Tessori further highlighted that he should talk about this in a press conference in three days, Dawn reported.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar ordered a probe into the fire and stated that the inquiry committee would be led by the Karachi commissioner.
“The committee will probe the cause of the fire and the negligence of officials,” his spokesperson said, adding that the committee would submit its report and its recommendations to the chief minister within three days, Dawn reported.
Furthermore, the incident comes just days after 11 people were killed in a huge fire that ripped through a six-storey commercial building in the city’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area.3 Killed After Fire Breaks Out At Mall In Karachi: Report