LAKKI MARWAT: A fire turned dozens of kiosks and makeshift shops into ashes in Darra Pezu town here on the night between Monday and Tuesday.

According to reports, the huge fire engulfed the entire bazaar located along the Indus Highway, destroying goods worth millions of rupees.

“It was not the first fire incident in the town,” said a local as back in 2015 a fire had caused losses of millions of rupees to the poor traders.

In Sept 2011, he added the business community suffered huge losses as their shops were destroyed in a suicide blast.

“The place was the hub of business activity and the main source of living for small traders,” said an affected shopkeeper.

Witnesses said area people, students of a religious seminary and policemen along with water tankers of a cement factory took part in extinguishing the blaze.

The deputy commissioner directed the revenue officials to visit the place and compile a report of losses for early compensation of affected traders.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018