LAHORE – A massive fire gutted at least 11 plazas, two houses and two mosques in Shah Alam Market on Monday afternoon, killing three people, destroying goods worth billions of rupees and forcing people to evacuate houses in the surroundings. Firefighters were struggling to put out the fire until the time this report was filed.
At least 25 people were injured in the incident, Edhi officials said. Per details, the fire started on the ground floor of Bahria Plaza owned by one Khushnood Butt at about 8am on Monday due to short circuiting. The fire intensified and spread to the adjacent buildings, gutting warehouses and shops of plastic toys, clothes, perfumes and chemicals.
The fire kept on gathering strength and its flames engulfed at least 11 buildings, of which two were completely gutted. With their structures badly damaged by the fire, the two plazas collapsed, burying several people under the debris. According to rescue officials, 23 people with multiple injuries were shifted to Mayo Hospital, where doctors said the condition of 10 was critical.
However, Edhi officials said they saw three bodies inside one of the burning plazas, and when Edhi and Civil Defence officials went inside to bring the bodies out, the 12-storey plaza collapsed, injuring Edhi official Naeem. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also took notice of the incident and directed the authorities to submit a report at the earliest.
