ISLAMABAD: A massive fire erupted at Islamabad’s Sunday Bazaar on Wednesday, engulfing over 300 stalls and causing significant damage. The blaze broke out at the capital’s I-9 open-air market, where vendors gather weekly to sell a variety of goods. A correspondent on the scene reported that multiple fire trucks were present, working to extinguish the flames.
“The process of putting out the fire is currently underway. Due to a shortage of fire brigades in Islamabad, assistance has been sought from Rawalpindi rescue teams and the firefighting team of the Pakistan Navy,” the correspondent said.
So far, no casualties have been reported. However, goods worth millions of rupees stored in the stalls have been destroyed, prompting vendors to express their grievances to the Sunday market administration. The incident has led to significant financial losses for the stall owners, many of whom rely on the weekly market for their livelihoods.
The Islamabad Police have cordoned off the area surrounding the market and are collecting evidence to determine the cause of the fire. “A full investigation into the fire will be carried out. All arrangements have been made to maintain the flow of traffic around the area,” the police stated on the X platform. They also requested citizens to avoid forming unnecessary gatherings and to cooperate with the police.
This incident follows a similar fire last month in Peshawar’s Nauthia Phattak area, which destroyed at least 80 shops, primarily selling used goods, and injured three people. Rescue 1122 officials said that the fire started in a small makeshift structure alongside the railway line and quickly spread to nearby shops, engulfing wooden cabins and a power transformer.
The recurring incidents of market fires highlight the need for improved safety measures and adequate firefighting resources to protect vendors and their livelihoods in open-air markets across the country.
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