NOWSHERA: A devastating fire swept through the busy Teh Bazari Market in Nowshera Cantonment, destroying dozens of temporary shops and causing losses worth millions of rupees to traders, officials and eyewitnesses said.
According to eyewitnesses, the blaze spread rapidly through the market, engulfing a large number of stalls within a short span of time. Rescue 1122 teams, along with fire brigades from the Cantonment Board and the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), rushed to the scene and launched a firefighting operation that continued for several hours.
Shopkeepers said the market comprises more than 150 shops, and fears remain that a majority of them may have been damaged or completely destroyed in the fire. Electronics stores located opposite the market also reportedly suffered significant financial losses.
The fire triggered panic among residents of nearby neighborhoods, with several families evacuating their homes as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, traders in adjacent markets hurriedly removed their merchandise to prevent further losses.
Officials from the relevant departments reached the site and personally supervised the rescue and firefighting efforts. As of the filing of this report, the cause of the fire had not been determined.
