SARGODHA: As fire-fighters managed to extinguish the flames that engulfed a market in the heart of the city, another fire broke out on Wednesday morning and created panic.

Officials evacuated a school nearby, asking the staff present there to go back to their homes.

Fire-fighters put out the flames within a few minutes.

Earlier on Tuesday night, a fire broke out in the market’s Block 2 and damaged cloth and plastic. At least 100 shops and as many stalls were reduced to ashes and cloth traders estimated a loss of millions.

The traders, who claim that they had been running their shops after obtaining loans, demanded that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif come to their rescue by announcing a compensation package.

The traders of Block 3 and 4 are also disturbed due to encroachment and they apprehend that if such an incident occurs, it can cause heavy loss.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2015