RAWALPINDI, Feb 22: More than 50 shops and cabins, 35 godowns and several residential apartments were either gutted or damaged when a fire broke out, apparently due to short circuit, in Moti Bazaar on early Thursday morning, causing over Rs100 million loss to the traders, the fire department said.

The blaze, which started at around 2.45 am was brought under control by the fire fighters after more than six hours.

A labourer, residing in a neighbourhood building of the market told reporters that when screams woke him up at about 3am he saw the fire had engulfed the market. The building, housing labourers also suffered damages as windowpanes came crashing down due to heat. Other nearby buildings were evacuated shortly after the fire broke out, eye witnesses said.

Flames and clouds of dark smoke could be seen from far-off. There was no report of casualties in the fire, a fire official said.

The fire-fighters from all stations of the city reached the scene shortly after the fire incident and started efforts to control it.