Firefighters at work quelling the Landhi fire, January 26, Karachi. PHOTO: THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
KARACHI:
At least two children were injured in separate fire incidents in Karachi’s Malir Khokhrapar and Landhi Sherpao Colony on Monday, triggering rescue operations and official inquiries into the causes of the blazes.
In Malir Khokhrapar, a fire broke out at a school operating inside a residential house. Rescue officials said two children suffered burn injuries, while several residents were present inside the building at the time. Fire Brigade teams were dispatched to the scene and brought the blaze under control.
In a separate incident, a fire erupted at a warehouse located near Masjid Aqsa in Landhi Sherpao Colony. Large quantities of thermopore, plastic, paper, cartons and other materials were destroyed in the blaze, officials said, adding that no loss of life was reported.
Read: Karachi to seal fire-hit Gul Plaza after search nears completion
According to details, the fire suddenly broke out in the warehouse in the Qaidabad police station area and quickly intensified. Upon receiving information, police, Rangers and representatives of welfare organisations reached the site and immediately called in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 teams.
Firefighters and rescue personnel reached the scene and began efforts to control the fire. After around 40 minutes of continuous work, the blaze was brought under control and cooling operations were started.
Landhi Fire Station in-charge Ghulam Fakhruddin said the fire was reported at 1:50pm. He said three KMC fire tenders responded and successfully extinguished the fire. The warehouse contained thermopore, plastic, paper, cartons and garbage, but timely action prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby house, a chair warehouse and the adjacent mosque.
Rescue 1122 said foam and piles of paper stored inside the warehouse had caught fire. Authorities said the cause of the fire and the extent of financial losses could not be immediately determined.
Following the incidents, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed a full inquiry into how a school was operating inside a residential building and ordered that the injured children be provided immediate medical treatment. He also called for an investigation into the warehouse fire to determine how it started and whether safety protocols were violated.
The incidents come days after a deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, which broke out late on January 17 and took nearly two days to control, killing more than 70 people, leaving several missing and affecting hundreds of families.
