600 shops burnt as fire at Lahore’s Hafeez Centre doused after 9 hours
Teary shopkeepers blame delay in rescue operation for the huge losses
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Rescue 1122 and Fire Brigade hydrants successfully extinguished the fire erupted in Hafeez Centre in Lahore’s Gulberg area after nine hours but not before the blaze destroyed 600 shops reducing millions of rupees electronic gadgets and devices to ashes, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Rescue teams completed the ardent operation with the help of Punjab Rangers, Police, Wasa, Civil Defence Water disposal, and district administration amid the presence of civil and political leadership.
The fire was so intense that it destroyed around 600 shops mostly on the second, third and fourth floors of the centre.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore said there was no shortage of water at all and around 60 hydrants took part in the rescue and relief operation at Hafeez Centre. The early morning fire at Hafeez Centre shattered the dreams of many traders as millions of rupees electronic devices have now been turned into ashes in just a matter of hours.
Probe committee formed
Lahore Division Commissioner Zulfiqar Ghuman has constituted a 14-member committee to look into the matter of the fire erupted in the commercial center of Gulberg. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Mudasir Riaz Malik will be the convener.
Earlier, the huge fire erupted at Hafeez Centre, the IT shopping plaza in Lahore’s Gulberg area, due to an electric short-circuit on Sunday morning.
The TV channel reported that as many as 33 fire brigade hydrants and Rescue 1122 teams were taking part in the operation to douse the fire. Punjab Rangers and Lahore police chief have also reached the site to assist the rescue operation.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar directed the civil administration to use maximum resources to control the damage due to short-circuit fire.
Local shopkeepers told 24NewsHD that at least four floors have been completely destroyed by the blaze. With tears in their eyes as they watch the blaze destroying their livelihood, the shopkeepers said the damage was severe as the rescue operation was not started on time.
The shopkeepers claimed that Rescue 1122 hydrants are not prepared to extinguish the fire as fire brigades are dealing with the storage of water.