KARACHI – A massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road in the early hours of Wednesday was brought under control after an intense four-and-a-half-hour operation, officials said.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Muhammad Hassan, the alert was received at 4:06 AM, prompting a rapid response involving 12 fire tenders, 11 fire brigade vehicles, and two snorkels. The blaze, which originated in the mall’s control room, quickly spread due to a non-functional fire alarm system.
“Although the building was equipped with a fire detection system, it was not operational, which allowed the flames to spread unchecked,” Hassan stated.
Extent of Damage and Response Efforts
The third floor bore the brunt of the damage, with approximately 150 shops affected. The first and second floors also sustained partial damage, rescue officials confirmed. Security guards were present at the time of the incident, and residents of an adjacent residential complex were safely evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the residential building was declared safe following inspection.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan acknowledged facing water shortages during the firefighting efforts, which added to the operational challenges.
The cooling process was completed successfully after containment, and officials have begun assessing the structural impact, particularly to the mall’s roof and upper floors.
Recurring Fire Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
This incident follows a similar industrial fire earlier this month in the Landhi Export Processing Zone, where a factory blaze quickly spread to three nearby units due to highly combustible materials.
The recurring fires have raised concerns over fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in commercial and industrial buildings across the city.
Authorities are expected to launch an inquiry into the incident and the failure of the mall’s fire safety systems.
