KARACHI: An old woman and two children sustained minor burns when a fire broke out in huts in Mehmoodabad that destroyed over 100 makeshift homes belonging to the Hindu community, police and fire brigade officials said on Thursday.

The fire that engulfed the huts situated on a plot in Junejo Town erupted at 10.24am and was put out at 6.15pm by six fire engines.

At least 20 people, including an old woman and two minor children were rescued, said a fire brigade official.

The flames leaping out from the huts also set fire to the first floor of a nearby multi-storey building, which was partially damaged. A parked car was also damaged in the fire.

The fire brigade official said that old woman Ram Piyari and two minor children were taken to hospital for treatment.

However, Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the emergency department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, said that only an old woman was brought to the hospital for treatment and she was discharged after first medical aid as she sustained minor burns on her leg.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately.

Baloch Colony SHO Malik Saleem said that all huts were completely destroyed.

He said the police were probing the incident but nothing could be said about the cause of the fire. At least five people, including three children, were burnt alive when a huge fire broke out in huts in Gulistan-i-Jauhar last week.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2015

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