KARACHI: A huge fire that erupted in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) of Landhi on Sunday evening was extinguished on Monday after hours of hectic efforts. However cooling work continued till evening, according to officials.

The fire gutted the three factories and badly damaged the buildings. The incident prompted law enforcers to get the zone vacated from workers to prevent possible loss of life.

SSP Malir Irfan Bahadur said the fire had engulfed three factories. He said the fire initially broke out in a cardboard factory inside the EPZ. It spread and engulfed two other nearby units manufacturing cloth and plastic. The SSP said there was no human casualty in the fire. However, he added that there were substantive damage to the property as the three factories were almost destroyed. Mr Bahadur said that the blaze was controlled by Monday but cooling work continued. He said the exact cause of the fire and estimate of loss would be determined after the cooling process ended.

A fire brigade officer said they were informed about the incident at around 6.13pm on Sunday. He added that the blaze was put out on Monday afternoon by 11 fire tenders. He said four fire tenders were busy in the cooling work.

An Edhi Foundation spokesperson said that their rescue workers and ambulances stayed there to meet any eventuality. A Pakistan Rangers-Sindh spokesperson in a statement said their personnel took part in rescue and firefighting efforts. The Rangers asked the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the fire brigade to send more water tankers and fire tenders to control the situation.

The Rangers said all people working in the factories of the EPZ were moved to safety.

Probe body

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the fire in the EPZ and directed Commissioner of Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani to conduct a thorough probe into it and submit a report to him.

The commissioner told Dawn that an inquiry committee “has been formed under the Malir deputy commissioner to ascertain the cause of the fire and fix responsibility within 15 days”.

Suspect killed in encounter

A suspected robber was shot dead in an alleged encounter who, along with an accomplice of his, were fleeing after injuring two shopkeepers near Mosamiat Chowk, off University Road in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, on Monday, Sachal police said.

They added that two gunmen riding a motorcycle tried to loot a hairdresser near Jauhar Complex. They shot at and injured the hairdresser, Saleem, as he put up resistance. A nearby milk seller was also fired at and wounded when he tried to chase the suspects.

When the suspects were fleeing, a police party arrived there and with the help of witnesses followed the suspects. In an exchange of fire in Madina Colony, one suspect, identified as Arsalan, 35, was killed but his accomplice escaped.

The dead suspect and the two injured shopkeepers were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2020