A fire that broke out in a building at Karachi’s Saddar market on Monday night was brought under control, said fire brigade officials.
Rescue 1122 officials said the fire erupted at seventh floor of Al-Najeebi Electronic Market in the Saddar area and engulfed several cars parked there.
Taking swift action, rescue teams reached the site and extinguished the fire before evacuating the people trapped inside the building.
Taking to his X handle, Karachi Mayor said: “Situation of the fire is under control so far and KMC fire tenders with snorkel are present on ground to tackle situation.”
Karachi’s mayor also visited the site to oversee the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah contacted the Karachi mayor, commissioner, and IG police following the fire incident.
The CM said saving lives is the top priority and directed the authorities to evacuate the people if trapped inside the building.
“Under all circumstances, human life must be saved before property,” he directed.
The chief minister directed the police to manage the crowd to ensure fire-fighting operations could be carried out effectively.
He also directed the KWSB to provide water without delay.
Municipal authorities, administration, and police must work together as a team to ensure a smooth rescue operation, the CM added.
Separately, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Saddar Liaquat Hiat said that three vehicles were affected due to fire, adding that all the people trapped inside the building were safely evacuated.
Earlier, a spokesperson of the KWSC said that an emergency was imposed on Nipa and Safoora hydrants and water takers sent to the site soon after the fire broke out in the building.
The spokesperson said that the KWSC is fully cooperating with rescue agencies, adding that they are ensuring an uninterrupted water supply in the fire extinguishing process.
“Water tankers will continue to be supplied until the fire is completely controlled,” the spokesperson added.
Fires often break out in Karachi’s high-rise buildings, most of which lack proper firefighting systems and safety measures, endangering lives of visitors and residents.
The latest incident came days after largest fire in more than a decade broke out on January 17 at Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi and quickly spread through the sprawling complex, famous for its 1,200 family-owned stores selling wedding clothes, toys, crockery, and other goods.
Investigators found that the fire originated at a flower shop on the ground floor, caused by a child, and spread rapidly through air-conditioning (AC) ducts to other parts of the building. The tragic incident claimed 79 lives, with the majority of fatalities occurring on the mezzanine floor.
A recent survey by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has found that 90% of buildings in Karachi’s eastern, central, and southern districts lack fire safety arrangements.
According to SBCA officials, fire safety equipment was found non-functional in some buildings, while emergency exits were blocked or missing in most of the buildings.
