RAWALPINDI: At least 12 commercial buildings were gutted and two razed to ground after a massive fire ripped through the old Urdu Bazaar on Thursday.

The bazaar is located not far from Lal Haveli, the public secretariat of Awami Muslim League (AML) of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The over 12 buildings that were damaged in the fire housed stationery shops, printing presses, bookshops, stores as well as bakeries and decoration items usually used in marriage functions.

The fire continued raging for more than eight hours before the fire department declared it had been controlled.

Immediately after receiving a call about the incident at about 12:55pm, emergency officials with multiple fire trucks reached the scene. Firefighters were seen on the roofs of the buildings in the narrow streets, trying to put out the flames.

Thick black smoke and flames could be seen pouring out from the windows and roofs of the buildings. These buildings were more than 80 years old.

“It was a huge fire and damaged more than 12 buildings. Two buildings also collapsed,” a fire department official said and added: “Eight more buildings are dilapidated and can collapse any time.”

He said: “For the first time I saw mud walls swelling due to the fire. All the buildings affected by the fire are now dangerous.”

He said an investigation is getting underway to determine what caused the fire. The exact losses are also yet to be assessed.

However, Mohammad Asim, an eyewitness, told Dawn that the fire was first spotted in electric wires passing through the bazaar and right in front of a shop dealing in decoration items used in wedding ceremonies.

“Some sparks fell on the decoration items and that apparently caused the fire,” Mr Asim said and added: “The fire spread to other shops very quickly due to the heavy winds.”

He said there was absolute chaos, heavy smoke and flames started bellowing from shops as panicked traders and shoppers started running for safety.

“A desperate man was seen delivering Azan and seeking God’s help to control the fire.”

The blaze that broke out in a shop spread to the adjoining shops and other buildings. Though the nearby buildings were evacuated, Younus Feroz, 60, was injured when he got close to the fire.

He sustained 27 per cent superficial burns and was shifted to the Holy Family Hospital by the rescue services.

Besides 10 fire vehicles, two water bowsers, 60 fire crew members, one rescue vehicle and five ambulances of Rescue 1122, three fire vehicles and four bowsers of the CDA, three fire vehicles of Bahria Town, one fire vehicle of Cantt fire department and 15 water tanks of Wasa took part in the operation.

After the fire broke out, the City Traffic Police issued a traffic alert by putting diversions on Iqbal Road and adjoining roads leading towards Urdu Bazaar. Road users were advised to use the alternative routes.

It was learnt that none of the shopkeepers or building owners had arranged a fire extinguishing system in the old bazaar. The concerned government departments had also not carried out inspections or asked the traders to take fire safety measures.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2021