GUJRANWALA, Feb 18: A fire broke out at a noted washing machine manufacturing factory here on Sunday on GT Road, reducing to ashes equipment and other material worth Rs800 million.

The cause of the fire is stated to be a short circuit.

Reports said the fire erupted at the godown of Super Asia factory at 2:00pm where a large number of washing machines and 10,000 bags of raw material had been stored. The blaze also collapsed a portion of the roof of the factory while cracks developed in the building of the unit.

Fire brigade from Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Sheikhupura and other neighbouring districts reached the spot and were trying to extinguish the blaze till the filing of this report at 10.00pm.

Meanwhile, company’s chief executive Haji Muhammad Ashraf told the press that the loss could exceed to Rs800 million. However, no human loss was reported.

Senior officers of the district administration and police also reached the spot. shot dead: Dacoits killed an army official on offering resistance here on Sunday night near Rotalla.

Shamasuddin, who was posted in Nakyal sector was on his way home at Kohwala. Near Rotalla two robbers intercepted him and shot him dead on resistance. A case has been registered. —Correspondent