RAWALPINDI: Firefighters doused a massive blaze at a textile factory in Rawalpindi’s Rawat industrial estate on Tuesday after efforts of 16 hours with no casualties or injuries.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire to prevent future incidents. The fire turned goods worth millions of rupees into ashes and badly damaged the factory building.

Rescue 1122 had reported 1,704 fire incidents in different parts of Rawalpindi in 2025. Four people were killed while more than 100 were affected during fire incidents. District Emergency Officer (DEO) Rescue1122 Sibghatullah said: “It was a third-level fire incident.”

He added that as per the onsite officials from the factory/warehouse, the cause remained a short circuit.

The fire that broke out on Monday evening continued till Tuesday as more than 80 firefighters and 21 emergency vehicles were engaged in the overnight firefighting operation, a spokesman for Rescue 1122 said in a statement. It added that more than 200,000 litres of water were used along with foam to control the blaze. Fire tenders and firefighters from neighbouring districts were also summoned.

The firefighters, after extinguishing the blaze, continued cooling efforts. The statement added that cracks had developed in the structure and there is a risk of collapse. A day earlier, the fire, which was initially declared a second-degree blaze, caused extensive property damage and sparked panic in the area.

Fire services from Bahria Town and Islamabad along with Wasa Rawalpindi were also called in to assist the firefighting operation.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026