IN 2007 valuables worth several thousand rupees were reduced to ashes when a fire broke out in the National Bank, LDA Plaza branch, due to short-circuit.

The fire broke out in the store of the bank due to short circuit at about 3pm. Within no time, the flames caught the whole building and burnt valuables worth thousands of rupees, including furniture, electronic accessories and cheque books.

The firefighters battled for more than two hours to extinguish the fire. Now once again the same building caught fire resulting in the loss of several lives.

According to reports, all those who lost their lives fell from the seventh floor of the building while attempting to descend through ropes.

The exact number of the people trapped in the building was yet to be known. TV footage showed people screaming for help as flames were engulfing the building. Some of them jumped after finding nobody coming to their rescue.

Aren’t there fire or emergency exits? Like the Baldia Town garment factory fire, there is no explanation.

The authorities concerned should look into these lapses and ensure there are safety measures in all the buildings.

IQRA AKBER Karachi

Precautionary steps THE memory of Owais Baig, who died after jumping from a multistoried State Life building in Karachi, is still fresh in our minds. Now the LDA Plaza caught fire, resulting in deaths of a number of people.

Had the disaster management authority and the fire brigade learnt a lesson from the previous incidents, this would not have taken place.

KHURRUM AZIZ Multan