ISLAMABAD: Fire broke out in a plaza located in Blue Area, causing damage to property and valuables, police and rescue officials said. It was reportedly caused by short circuit.

Fortunately, no serious injuries or casualty was reported in the incident however, the condition of some people deteriorated due to smoke and suffocation. The fire erupted during the afternoon at the site where electric meters had been installed, the police said, adding that it spread quickly and reached the multi-storey plaza through wires.

The fire quickly spread to several floors as a result of which thick smoke was seen billowing from the building, the officials said, adding that shortly after getting information, rescue workers including firefighters and police reached there.

The plaza and its adjacent building were vacated. Some offices and commercial centres were also damaged by the fire.

Advocate Tariq Bilal, whose office was located inside the plaza, said that each floor had 16 to 18 offices, adding that all the electric meters melted due to the fire.

The meters were installed away from the plaza but the electric wires had not been put in place which is a safety hazard, he added.

Published in Dawn,May 10th, 2022