KARACHI: Two workers burned to death and a third one was injured when a huge fire erupted in a private steel mill in the industrial area of Port Qasim on Friday, officials said.

Rescue-1122 Director General Dr Abid Shaikh told Dawn that a devastating fire had erupted right after a blast occurred in a boiler at Agha Steel Mills. The fire spread rapidly destroying surroundings.

He said that five fire tenders managed to control the blaze after several hours. He said that two people were killed and a man was injured in the fire.

He claimed that the management was reluctant to give them complete access to the affected area.

Two videos shared by an Edhi Foundation spokesperson showed raging flames and thick smoke billowing out of the mills.

Another charity organisation, Chhipa, identified the victims as Abid, 28 and Jameel Shaheen, 45. The victims were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The exact cause of the fire remained unclear.

Fire in towel factory

Another huge fire erupted in a towel factory in Korangi Industrial Area on Friday, which was controlled after hectic efforts lasting for several hours. No one was hurt in the fire.

One factory worker, Shahid, told the media hat the fire had erupted because of a short circuit in the pole-mounted transformer (PMT), which exploded and flames spread in the industrial unit. All employees immediately left the factory.

KMC fire official Zafar Khan said that the blaze erupted inside the factory at around 8.50am, which was controlled by five fire tenders.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023