55 shops gutted by fire in Karachi
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

KARACHI: Up to 55 shops have been affected in a big fire in a scrap market in Karachi’s Shershah area on Sunday morning.This was stated by the Chief Fire Officer of the City District Government Karachi, Ehteshamuddin Siddiqui.

He described this as a big fire and stated that 30 fire tenders fought the blaze and brought it under control.

Siddiqui said that the fire had spread rapidly because of auto parts, tyres etc in the scrap market.

He stated that after several hours’ efforts the fire has been brought the fire under control and the cooling down process is underway which will continue for another two hours or so.

Siddiqui further said that up to 55 shops in the market have been affected- some of the gutted and some partially damaged.

However, he added, there is no report of any injury to any person in the blaze. It was a weekly holiday today and the shops were shut when the fire broke out early in the morning, it was further pointed out.

An official of the Central Fire said that the first fire tender was dispatched to the spot when a report about the fire was received at 7.20 a.m.

The official further pointed out that the fire has been described as of grade three.

The cause of the fire and the extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately, it was further stated.

As many as 30 fire tenders took part in bringing the fire under control. These included fire tenders from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Defence Housing Authority (DHA) as well as of Karachi Cantonment.●