SWABI: Four furnaces (bathas) of Virginia tobacco situated in different villages caught fire, reducing leaves, which were under curing process, to ashes, and inflicting huge financial losses over growers here on Saturday, farmers and Rescue 1122 officials said.

Luqman Khan, a rescue official, told Dawn that a fire broke out in the tobacco furnace of a farmer, Nigar Ali in Hamza Dher village of Razaar tehsil. He said after getting information about the incident, firefighters and rescue vehicles were soon dispatched to the area to put out the blaze.

“The fire caused a great financial loss to me. I don’t know how I will handle the curing process of the remaining tobacco because no one can spare a furnace for other farmers at the present stage,” he said.

Similarly, the tobacco furnace of Hazrat Kamal in Mansoori village of Safarona area caught fire, reducing tobacco leaves to ashes.

Rescue firefighters reached the spot and made vigorous efforts to control the blaze.

In Bachai village, the furnace of Iqbal Khan was gutted on Saturday morning. Iqbal said one furnace of tobacco cost Rs0.4 million.

A fire also broke out in the tobacco furnace of Rehman Ali in Maneri Payan village.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the house of Mohammad Younis in Kotha village, caused by a short-circuit, rescue officials said.

They said firefighters put out the blaze, saving the surrounding rooms from being damaged.

SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS: The police have taken special security measures for mosques, Eidgahas, bazaars and other important buildings for Eidul Azha to avoid any untoward incident.

Officials in the district administration said leaves of sanitation staff had also been cancelled to ensure the success of the special cleanliness operation to be executed by the tehsil municipal administration.

They said TMA staff had been directed to immediately collect and dispose of remains of sacrificial animals from both urban and rural areas.

Officials in Shahmansoor Town said biodegradable bags were being distributed among the people for disposing of animal waste.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2024