BAJAUR: Scores of trees were destroyed after a centuries-old cemetery caught fire in the Khar town of Bajaur tribal district on Monday, Rescue 1122 officials and residents said.

They said the fire broke out in the Doosi graveyard, the oldest cemetery of the district, established some 500 years ago.

They said the fire erupted at about 11.30am, quickly engulfing a major part of the graveyard, destroying scores of trees and plants.

A rescue spokesman said a team of firefighters along with a fire engine rushed to the spot after being informed about the blaze. However, he said scores of trees had already been destroyed when the firefighters reached there. He said the firefighters extinguished the blaze after two hours.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2021