NOWSHERA: The traders on Sunday demanded a transparent probe into a devastating fire at the busy Tehbazari Market in Nowshera Cantonment that reduced the entire place to ashes, inflicting heavy losses on shopkeepers.
According to initial reports, over 300 cabin-style shops were destroyed along with all merchandise, causing losses estimated in the millions of rupees.The affected market is owned by the Nowshera Cantonment Board and is auctioned annually for substantial amounts. This year, the market contract was awarded for Rs100 million on June 1 last.
The market had previously been destroyed by a blaze under mysterious circumstances several years ago. Traders in the market dealt in a variety of goods, including clothing, blankets, footwear, cosmetics, garments and crockery.
The inferno broke out at night between Saturday and Sunday. The rescue operations were jointly conducted by the Rescue 1122 teams from Nowshera, Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi. Fire-fighters from the Cantonment Board and various Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) also participated in the operation.
The Rescue 1122 fire fighters employed a coordinated strategy from multiple directions and continued fire fighting efforts for nearly three hours. Their professional response succeeded in bringing the blaze under control despite its spread over a large area.
Officials said the timely operation prevented the fire from spreading to the main Gul Market and saved nearby shops and commercial establishments from potential losses worth millions of rupees.
According to Rescue 1122 authorities, the operation was supervised by District Emergency Officer Malik Ashfaq Hussain and ADC Relief Ejaz Akhtar. A total of 12 fire vehicles and more than 60 fire fighters from Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar participated in the emergency response.
Following the incident, affected traders staged a protest at the Shobra Chowk and blocked the Grand Trunk Road in both directions for several hours, disrupting all types of traffic. The protesters demanded a transparent investigation into the fire, registration of a case and action against those responsible.The traders directly accused the market contractors of involvement, alleging that the fire had been deliberately set.
The protest ended after successful negotiations between police and Cantonment Board administration officials and the representatives of the traders. Traffic on the GT Road was subsequently restored.The traders’ negotiating committee is scheduled to hold further talks with the Cantonment Board administration regarding their demands.
