MURREE: A fire broke out in an illegal petrol shop in Lora, near Ghorra Gali, according to Rescue 112 sources.

The fire had started in the petrol shop due to a short circuit and quickly spread to four other adjoining shops.

The Rescue 112 team was able to control the fire after two hours, but the four shops had already been badly damaged.

A number of illegal petrol shops have been selling petrol and diesel in various bazaars of Murree and its adjoining areas in violation of the laws of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority.

Such shops are selling petrol in Lower Topa, Ghulehra Gali, Sehr Bagla, Aliot, Phagwari, Rawat, Ausia, Dewal and many other bazaars, without any check from the authorities on Islamabad-Murree Expressway.

The locals of the area said that the illegal sale of petrol may prove to be dangerous as it can be used for terrorist activities. They appealed to the authorities to take serious action against these businesses.

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner Arif Ullah Awan, who is also administrator Murree, said that there isn’t a single legally set up petrol pump on the entire Expressway from Satra Mile to Lower Topa.

He said that the administration is planning to take serious action against such illegal petrol shops.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017