Vendors watch helplessly as their livelihoods went up in flames, leaving behind smoke engulfing the Lighthouse area as a massive fire tore through a bustling flea market, reducing 70 makeshift stalls and countless goods to ashes. Photo: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
At least 70 makeshift stalls were reduced to ashes when a massive fire swept through a flea market along a stormwater drain near Lady Dufferin Hospital in the Lighthouse area on Thursday. No casualties were reported, though the damage to property was significant.
The fire erupted suddenly among the temporary vendor setups, within the jurisdiction of Kharadar police station. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing dozens of stalls. Police, fire brigade, and rescue teams rushed to the site to contain the blaze.
As the fire continued to spread, more fire tenders were called in, and a full-scale firefighting operation was launched. Rescue 1122 and the KMC Fire Brigade deployed additional vehicles to assist in the operation. After about 45 minutes of continuous effort, the fire was finally brought under control.
The blaze destroyed over 70 stalls and pushcarts, many of which contained winter clothing such as sweaters, jackets, mufflers, blankets, socks, shoes, and slippers. The affected vendors reported substantial financial losses, with many having purchased their stock on credit from Shershah Market.
“We had stocked up on goods worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, but now everything is gone,” said one distressed vendor. Traders have since appealed to the Sindh government to compensate for their losses, stressing the devastating blow to their livelihoods.
Zafar Khan, a fire officer with the KMC Fire Brigade, suspected that the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, although the exact cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed. Khan added that the firefighting efforts were complicated by the narrow streets and encroachments around the Lighthouse area, which hindered access for fire tenders and rescue vehicles.
