The fire, which erupted in a ghee godown due to short-circuit, destroyed the godowns located in the two old residential lanes known as mohallahs Mohammad Zafar Shaheed and Samundar Khan on Yousuf Ali Shah Road in New Rampura Gate in the old city area.

The fire broke out at 1.15pm, but it could not be extinguished till 4.15pm. The municipal fire fighters failed to put out the flames even after four hours. Later, labourers, Frontier Constabulary personnel, local police and residents of the area put out the fire by throwing sand on flames.

All the stocks of pulses and rice in both the godowns turned into ashes. The six-room house, which was being used as godown and filled with ghee canisters, was also completely destroyed.

A large number of godowns of ghee, rice and pulses have been established illegally in Mursaleen Plaza, making an enclave into Mohallah Zafar Shaheed and Sumandar Khan.

This residential area, built by Hindus before the partition, was fast turning into a trade and commercial area.

The billowing smoke kept the entire locality enveloped into a dark haze for over two hours. The traffic remained suspended and shopkeepers pulled down the shutters of their shops and moved out of the area.

The residents told Dawn that most of the traders on Yousuf Ali Shah Road in connivance with the municipal staff had turned houses located in their areas into godown.

The shopkeepers have also encroached footpaths on both sides of the road. They used to pay graft to the municipal staff and the local police for allowing them to display their commodities on footpaths.

The resident have appealed to the government to intervene into the matter and order the shopkeepers to shift their godowns from residential areas and put a ban on commercial plazas in these areas.