The fire that broke out in the timber market near Old Haji Camp in Karachi, could not be put out even after over 8 hours of strained efforts. The blaze continued to rage and engulfed lumber warehouses and a number of nearby houses.
The affected people who kept sitting under open skies through the nighttime demanded the government to dispatch the helicopter to partake in the firefighting operation.
Making it directly to the timber market, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said he himself is supervising the relief efforts so that no dereliction occurs.
From the very outset, the fire has been rated third-degree inferno. However, only five fire tenders arrived at the timber market to grapple with the blaze. But, the fire very soon outgrew their efforts as it spread to nearby apartment complexes.
The residents were evacuated and the firefighting vehicles and snorkels were called in from across the megacity to take part in the operation to extinguish the fire.
There is no immediate report regarding any casualties. Also, the rescue personnel confirmed that no casualties were thus far reported in the operation.
As the fire intensified, the power supply to the area was discontinued to avert more loss. The firefighters complained of narrow lanes to reach to the affected site.
The local people complained that the fire assumed bigger magnitude owing to the lukewarm response of fire department that used only water to put out the fire. Even water was used up.
Soon after the eruption, the members of MQM Coordination Committee requested Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan to summon firefighters from across the country.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain also condemned lack of action from the Sindh government, saying the provincial government deserved to be given award of inefficiency.
