LAHORE – Severe traffic jams were witnessed on all adjoining roads to the Main Circular Road due to the fire, which erupted at the Shah Alam Market on Monday. Commuters were irked by the situation, which also affected the Walled City. Congested roads in the Walled City disrupted traffic at various points, as rescuers also faced problems in reaching the spot.
Traffic jams were reportedly caused by people who stopped their vehicles in order to catch a glimpse of the blaze. People evacuating from the area also faced problems in reaching their destinations due to the traffic jam. Tahir Ameen, a resident of Muridke, told Pakistan Today that he was coming from Muridke when he witnessed the traffic mess at the Minar-e-Pakistan and remained stuck for more than one and a half hour.
He said that bumper-to-bumper traffic was seen at almost every road located in the Walled City adding that traffic wardens had failed to control the situation. Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Captain (r) Mubeen reached the Shah Alam Market and monitored traffic arrangements. He directed the SP and DSP concerned to ensure smooth traffic flow and deployed around 230 wardens near the Shah Alam Maket to keep roads clear for rescue vehicles.
He said that although vehicles’ flow was slow but traffic was never chocked on any road.
