Daily Times

LAHORE: It took fire tenders almost eight hours to extinguish a fire that broke out in a multi-storey plaza at Lahore’s famous Anarkali Bazaar on early Saturday.

Rescue workers have claimed that according to initial observation, a short circuit is likely the cause of the fire in the bazaar where decoration paraphernalia such as firecrackers and aerosol sprays are sold.

According to details, the fire erupted in the third floor of a plaza in Guddi Bazaar on Ganpat Road, Anarkali at around 2am, which engulfed adjacent buildings and a warehouse.

At least two people were injured and more than 80 shops were reduced to ashes.

Initially, 15 fire tenders of Rescue 1122, heavy contingents of police rushed to the site and started rescue operation. According to rescue sources, the injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital.

As many as 30 fire brigade vans and more than 200 officials of the Rescue 1122 and the local district administration took part in the rescue operation that continued for almost eight hours. However, the cooling process was still going on.

Following the blasé, the local administration suspended the power supply to the area to avoid any untoward incident.

Eyewitnesses told Daily Times that the fire erupted at the godown of the plaza due to a short circuit. No loss of life has been reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Punjab has sought a complete report on the incident.

The incident created panic among shopkeepers at other plazas. They also reached the scene and started taking precautionary measures to avoid further loss. The huge fire incident also sparked terror among the nearby residents, who monitored the rescue operation. The owners of the plaza alleged that they lost goods worth million of rupees, as the fire brigade and rescue personnel did not reach the site immediately.

A district officer of Rescue 1122 said the entrance to one of the burning buildings was narrow, making the firefighting process difficult. He said no fire extinguishing equipment was present in the building.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains, Deputy Commissioner Sameer Saeed, Lahore mayor and other government officials also reached the scene and supervised the rescue operation. They directed officials and rescuers to utilise all-out resources to control the fire without any delay.

Most of the traders kept their shops closed o Saturday. Customers also avoided visiting the market due to poisonous smoke.

Mixed statements by police officers and rescuers were received about the cause of fire. Some were of the view that a short circuit had resulted into the horrific fire, while others alleged that someone had set the plaza on fire “intentionally”.

Earlier in December 2014, at least 12 people died while a number of others injured after a building caught fire at the same bazaar.