06 March 2005	Sunday	24 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, March 5: A fire broke out in a high-rise building, located on Sharea Faisal, on Saturday afternoon.

Fire brigade officials said that they received information about the fire at 11.20am in Mehdi Towers, located near a traffic intersection on Sharea Faisal.

Twelve fire tenders were dispatched to control the fire which erupted in an electric cable in the basement and travelled up to all 10 floors of the building. The most affected floors were 7th and 8th, where the offices were damaged severely. Fire fighters took almost three hours to control the fire. A dozens of people stranded in the building were rescued and none was reported seriously wounded.

Chief of the fire brigade department Kazim Ali told Dawn that the people were rescued through the only snorkel available with the fire department. Two helicopters were also called in from Edhi Foundation and the Civil Aviation Authority to rescue the people, who had stepped up to the roof of the high-rise building.

He said that the cause of fire was a short circuit in the basement and the electricity sparks travelled to almost all floors causing accumulation of thick black smoke and fire at 7th and 8th floors. People inside the building could not find a way out as the stairs were under the cover of thick smoke. Many people stepped up to the rooftop while some were rescued from different floors who had been trapped in their offices. He said that a snorkel was called in from the workshop where it was being repaired. He stressed the need for at least two snorkels in the city.

Mr Kazim said that the building did not have fire alarm system, hydrant system or smoke management system. He pointed out that these systems were mandatory in high-rise buildings. The owners should consult with the fire department before constructing high-rise buildings as it was necessary for the lives of many people.

He said that the fire was controlled by 2pm and all of the people were rescued. No one was injured, he added.

Due to the fire, traffic was closed on one track of Sharea Faisal which led to traffic mess on the main artery. The traffic jams took hours to release after the fire was extinguished. Ministers and high officials of Sindh and city governments also visited the spot following the incident.