KARACHI, July 29: A fire broke out in a KESC sub-station installed in the basement of an 11-storey commercial building located in front of the Karachi Press Club on Thursday. However, it was timely controlled by fire fighters.

According to the city deputy chief fire officer, Muhammad Naeem Yousuf, the fire broke out in KESC's sub-station in the basement of Lakson building No 1 due to a short circuit in an electric panel and reached the top floor through an electric duct. Power was cut off to avoid any further loss, he added.

More than 200 people including 25 women working in the building were evacuated from the building by 30 fire fighters while no causality was reported. However, four people were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) by Edhi volunteers after they fell unconscious due to suffocation.

As many as five fire tenders, one snorkel and a rescue vehicle from fire brigade headquarters in Saddar, Boltan Market and Lyari participated in the rescue operation.

DO civil defence and fire brigade Col Ehtashamuddin and chief fire officer Kazim Ali monitored the rescue operation. The extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately.

Meanwhile, the city deputy chief, Fire and Rescue Officer, Naeem Yousuf, called for a detailed survey of all high rise buildings, both commercial and residential, in the metropolis by the fire brigade. - PPI/APP