KARACHI: A heavy fire broke out in a multi-story shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi, resulting in at least 11 fatalities, as confirmed by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab via his social media account.
The blaze has been extinguished, and rescue operations, involving two snorkels, eight fire tenders, and a bowser, successfully rescued nearly 50 people trapped within the RJ shopping mall.
During the rescue efforts, volunteers from various rescue agencies became embroiled in a dispute over the destination for transporting the injured, jeopardizing the lives of those in critical condition.
Volunteers affiliated with Chhipa reported that they were in the process of transporting a victim on their stretcher when volunteers from Rescue 1122 insisted that the individual required oxygen. Allegedly, the Chhipa ambulance did not have access to oxygen.
Ultimately, the injured firefighter was taken to the hospital against his wishes and placed in an ambulance lacking oxygen. The volunteer expressed concern, contending that forcing a person into an ambulance without oxygen is not providing assistance but rather endangering their life.
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) reported receiving nine bodies, while one body each was transferred to the Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The injured, six of whom are in critical condition, were transported to nearby healthcare facilities.
The fire, which began around 7 am on the second floor, spread to the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the mall. The cause remains unclear. Rauf Hamid, a survivor, mentioned that many people are still trapped, recounting the intensity of the smoke during the incident.
CM Baqar takes notice
Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar expressed regret over the loss of lives and called for urgent measures to control the fire, ensuring immediate medical aid for the injured.
Karachi Deputy Commissioner Salim Rajput initiated an inquiry into the incident, ordering the sealing of buildings lacking security arrangements and emphasizing a thorough data collection process by deputy commissioners within 30 days.
Chief Fire Officer Mubeen Ahmed noted that this is the second fire incident in the same mall in two years. He highlighted the absence of a fire extinguishing system and suggested a possible short circuit as the cause. Karachi Fire Rescue Commander Humayun Khan stated that the centrally air-conditioned mall posed challenges for ventilation during a fire.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed sorrow over the incident, urging better treatment for the injured and demanding an immediate investigation to prevent such incidents in the future.
Experts at a Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP) symposium revealed that over 90% of structures in Karachi lack fire safety arrangements, emphasizing the need for implementing building codes and raising awareness through education on fire safety measures. They highlighted the high toll of fire-related incidents in the country and advocated for widespread training and awareness programs.
