RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Valuables worth millions of rupees were reduced to ashes as a fire broke out in a five-storey plaza at Mochi Gate area of the provincial capital on Monday morning.

After receiving information of the incident, a heavy contingent of police and rescuers reached the site and took control of the situation. To prevent people from further loss, the police officials evacuated the plaza and its adjoining buildings. The power supply in the areas was also disconnected because the flames of the fire were too high and touching the electric wires.

A good number of people including the nearby traders and residents got panicked after the incident and took to the streets, demanding transparent probe into the unfortunate matter. However, some people were gathered to just witness what was happening. According to the rescuers, they experienced severe hardships while extinguishing the fire because it was erupted in a warehouse of plastic toys in the fourth-storey of the plaza. They said the extinguishing operation was lasted for many hours.

A rescuer, Muhammad Rizwan, said the area was very congested and they extinguished the fire after climbing up other buildings. “The fire tenders could not enter the affected site because of narrow streets,” the rescuer said, adding that more than ten fire tenders were used in the operation.

He said the fire was first erupted in the first floor of the plaza which subsequently engulfed its other portions. According to him, the estimation of the loss is yet to be ascertained but added that it would be in millions of rupees.

The police officials said initially it is believed that the incident occurred due to an electric-short circuit while further investigation is under process to ascertain the authentic of their preliminary findings. They also shuttered down all nearby shops and markets security purposes. The officials said an FIR has been registered while further investigation is underway.