KARACHI: A huge fire that erupted in the basement of a shopping centre in Saddar on Tuesday destroyed nine vehicles before being controlled by at least 10 fire tenders after hectic efforts lasting for three hours, police and rescue services officials said.

The Saddar police said that the fire erupted in the parking area of Noman Centre located on Preedy Street because of a short circuit.

Rescue 1122 official Hassaan Khan told Dawn that they received information about the fire at around 10:15am.

Some shopkeepers in the mall had stocked used clothes in bags in the basement due to which the fire spread rapidly, he said.

He said that the four-storey building had no fire extinguishers.

He added that 10 fire tenders were sent to the scene and the firemen managed to control the blaze after hectic efforts at around 1:24pm.

During rescue operation, firefighters faced immense difficulties because of lack of ventilation and other issues, leading to breathing problems for two firemen, he said.

Furthermore, people had blocked M.A. Jinnah Road in a protest against an ongoing drive by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to remove encroachments in Saddar’s commercial area.

He said that it compounded the problem as firemen faced difficulties in getting water from the hydrant in the Garden area.

He said seven motorcycles, one car and a rickshaw were completely destroyed while several other vehicles were partially damaged.

Nobody was reported injured in the incident.

It is the second incident of fire in as many days. On Monday, dozens of parked vehicles were gutted in a fire that broke out in the Clifton Nazarat.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024