Burnt out stalls at Islamabad’s H-9 Sunday Bazaar paint a grim picture of fire safety arrangements. PHOTO: Raja Zafar/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Hundreds of stalls and their wares were reduced to ashes after a fire broke out at H-9 Sunday Bazaar in Islamabad.
The fire brigade reached the spot and brought the fire under control, while traders termed the incident as a conspiracy.
According to details, the fire broke out suddenly between 10 pm and 11 pm on Tuesday at H-9 Sunday Bazaar near Peshawar Mor and quickly spread to several parts of the market.
Six Rescue 1122 firefighters remained engaged in firefighting operations, while the Pakistan Navy Fire Service also joined the rescue efforts. According to the district administration, the fire spread to a total of nine parts of the market.
Sources said more than 380 stalls were affected by the fire, while an initial estimate of economic losses is being assessed. No loss of life was reported.
Affected traders said government officials arrived at the spot very late and claimed that fires had become a recurring problem in the market.
Speaking to The Express Pakinomist, Abdul Rehman Khan, president of the trade association for H Section, claimed that the fire was not accidental but part of a conspiracy.
He said emergency services reached the scene too late, allowing the fire to spread widely.
