SUKKUR: Six shops were reduced to ashes and a young labourer was burnt alive on Tuesday near a mobile market within the limits of the Khanpur Mahar police station in Ghotki district.

According to details, the six shops, including those of crockery, furniture and plastic products, burnt down in the fire started suddenly in Khanpur Mahar.

The blaze in no time engulfed five shops and a warehouse situated on the same plot.

Identified as Alam, son of Noor Khan Mahar, the 18-year-old labourer, is believed to have been trapped under the debris of the collapsed warehouse. He used to work at one of the shops.

His relatives immediately arrived at the scene and his father Noor Khan Mahar fainted after listening to the news of his death.

The fire destroyed plastic containers, bicycles, furniture, cash and other valuable items besides goods worth millions of rupees.

Firefighters worked continuously for almost seven hours to bring the fire under control and to find the body.

As the initial estimates suggested that the fire, which started early in the morning, had destroyed goods worth Rs50 million.

The cause of the fire could not be determined till filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025