A massive fire broke out at a superstore near Zamzama Street in Clifton on early Monday morning, intensifying rapidly and spreading from the ground floor to the basement, officials said.
According to rescue authorities, the fire erupted at around 5:45am, reportedly originating near an ATM installed on the ground floor. The flames spread quickly due to the presence of a false ceiling.
Firefighters from Rescue 1122, KMC Fire Brigade, DHA, and Cantonment Board Clifton responded promptly to the emergency. Despite facing difficulties due to dense smoke and limited ventilation in the basement, fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly 12 hours of continuous efforts. Cooling operations continued into the night.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said over 20 employees present inside the store at the time were safely rescued. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported. To contain the fire, rescue teams had to break through multiple walls, doors, and windows to access different sections of the building and release trapped smoke.
A total of 10 fire tenders, along with snorkels and water tankers, were deployed during the operation. The fire caused extensive damage to goods stored on the ground floor and in the basement. However, firefighters prevented the flames from reaching the upper two floors, which are designated for parking.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site twice during the day to monitor rescue efforts and review the situation. Speaking to the media, he said initial findings suggested the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault in the ATM and the false ceiling, though the exact cause and financial losses will be determined after the fire was completely extinguished.
Officials added that a fire safety audit of the building was being reviewed, and further investigations are underway. On the instructions of KWSC CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, emergency was declared at NIPA, Safoora, and Landhi hydrants, a spokesperson said.
The water corporation dispatched water tankers to the site immediately. In-charge Hydrants Cell remains in constant coordination with fire brigade and rescue officials. The CEO’s focal person for Hydrants Cell is supervising the operation. An uninterrupted water supply to the fire brigade was ensured during firefighting operation, and the water corporation’s tankers reached the site promptly, the spokesperson claimed. Emergency was declared at the Sherpao hydrant on the instructions of the CEO. Emergency had already been imposed at NIPA, Safoora, and Landhi hydrants, he added.
