KARACHI, June 25: A single track of the Teen Hatti Bridge was closed for vehicular traffic while the other track was kept open for light traffic following a fire which occurred under the bridge on Tuesday morning.

Officials of the fire department and the City Government said that due to excessive heat, cracks appeared on the bridge.

Officials said that at least three to four pillars of the bridge also suffered damage due to the intense temperature.

However, full extent of the damage could not be immediately ascertained due to the blackening of the pillars from smoke.

Fire officials said that the fire started in a trash-storage yard where mostly refuse paper was dumped by Afghan scavengers.

Several animals locked inside the storage yard were also consumed by the fire.

A spokesman for the fire department said that the fire, which erupted around 6am, was contained after several hours of fire- fighting operation in which over ten fire tenders took part.

Several shops located near the bridge and nearby houses narrowly escaped the fire. One flower shop, however, was completely gutted.

Since early morning, the track leading to Jehangir Road was closed for traffic, while the other track leading to the Daak Khana remained open for light traffic.

Following the closure of the bridge, the traffic heading towards Jehangir Road from S.M. Taufeeq Road was diverted to the road leading to University Road near old Sabzimandi. Meanwhile, at least one person was injured in the fire that broke out early Tuesday morning.