KARACHI, Dec 12: A big fire broke out in a textile mill, located in Landhi Industrial Area on Sunday. According to the fire department, fire erupted in the Olympia Textile Mill at 12:26pm.

All the fire engines from the city were called in to control the fire, but proved inadequate. Subsequently, fire tenders of the Pakistan Navy, Karachi Port Trust and Steel Mills were also called in to help combat the fire.

Chief Fire Officer Kazim Ali told Dawn that the fire had been contained but had not been extinguished, it could take another 24 to 48 hours- to completely extinguish the inferno.

Pointing out the severe water shortage in the area, the CFO said: "Each time we control the fire it re-erupts as we run short of water supply." He said that 70,000 cotton bales were gutted in the fire while another 25,000 bales were lying in the godown which had been saved from the fire.

The CFO said that City Nazim Naimatullah Khan had visited the spot and appreciated the efforts of the firemen. The nazim also ordered the Rangers to ensure water supply to the Fire Service.

However, the fire service had not received water supply from the Rangers till filing of this report. Kazim Ali said that the cause and total losses suffered due to the fire could not be ascertained immediately. But, the main block of the textile mill had been saved from the fire, he added.

BLAST: Two people suffered minor injuries when an explosion occurred in a storm drain along with the wall of Baitul Mukaram mosque, located in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Police said that Murad, 11, and a hawker identified as Jehangir suffered minor injuries in the explosion. They were shifted to a hospital for treatment.