SHANGLA: A huge fire caused by electric short-circuit gutted five houses in Kuz Kallay area of Alpuri tehsil here on Tuesday morning. However, inmates remained unhurt.

Rescue 1122 officials told Dawn that the fire erupted in a two-storey house, and rapidly spread to adjacent four houses due to wood used in roofs.

They said several rooms of the five houses along with goods were reduced to ashes. However, they said a 50-member rescue team along with locals, police and TMA officials managed to bring the fire under control after hectic efforts of five hours.

The station house in-charge of Rescue 1122, who supervised the operation, said the fire could have caused more destruction because of densely-populated locality and wood used in houses if timely response was not ensured.

He said the local people used deodar wood in house construction, which caught fire very quickly.

He said 65 per cent portions of the houses were gutted, adding each house was built on around a kanal of land.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2023