A fire erupted on Monday at a superstore located near Zamzama Street in DHA Phase 5, Karachi, following a short circuit in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) inside the premises. The incident quickly escalated as flames spread throughout the building.
Fire brigade teams dispatched multiple fire tenders to the scene to combat the blaze, which originated on the first floor where the ATM was situated. The fire then extended to other sections of the store. Initial efforts by store employees to douse the flames with fire extinguishers proved unsuccessful as the fire intensified rapidly.
The affected floor housed crockery, a substantial inventory of cosmetics, and clothing items, all of which contributed to the swift spread of the fire. Rescue personnel encountered significant challenges due to thick smoke filling the building, necessitating the breaking of parts of the structure to gain access and effectively extinguish the fire.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities occurred during the incident. In a related event from the previous week, a man lost his life following a fire at the already compromised Gul Plaza building on M.A. Jinnah Road. The victim was discovered unconscious amid debris after the fire and later died in hospital.
The fire at Gul Plaza originated in a shop located in an alley connected to the building, producing dense smoke and raising concerns about further damage to the weakened structure. Meanwhile, police apprehended three drug addicts at the site; one was caught inside the building allegedly stealing copper wires, while the other two were arrested outside. They have been taken to a police station for interrogation, as confirmed by SSP City Ali Hassan.
