22 injured in Lahore market fire

As many as 22 people were injured and a number of buildings, houses, and plazas in Shahalam Market, a trade centre of the Lahore, were gutted, when a fire broke out in a godown, which went out of control. The damaged caused by the fire is said to be in millions of rupees and the affected traders and people demanded compensation and financial support from the government.
Most of the buildings collapsed and turned into ashes. The rescue teams were trying their best to extinguish the fire, as they were unable to control the fire till filing of the report. The disastrous fire, in densely populated commercial area of provincial capital, went out of control as the Helicopters, Rescue Services 1122, Fire Brigade, Civil Defence and other emergency rescuers failed to get control on the fire even after a hectic operation comprising on more than 15 hours. As the fire fighters were struggling, the fire was fast spreading to the residential areas. Rescuers said they were facing hardship in controlling the fire due to congested and narrow streets of the area.
APP adds: As many as 300 shops in eight commercial plazas caught fire early in the morning at Mochi Gate, the densely populated commercial area on Monday resulting injuries to 24 persons besides heavy financial losses. The disastrous fire, in densely populated commercial area of provincial capital, went out of control as the Helicopters, Rescue Services 1122, Fire Brigade, Civil Defence and other emergency rescuers failed to get control on the fire even after a hectic operation comprising on more than 15 hours.
City government sources claimed that the fire fighter were gradually getting control on fire and much of its intensity has been reduced as the under fire area was shrinking. All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran (APAT) also demanded the government to provide compensation to the traders of Mochi Gate, Shahalam Market, affected of disastrous fire.
Khalid Pervez, President APAT, talking to the mediamen after his visit to the under fire area, said that hundreds of traders were badly affected due to the fire as their business were completely destroyed. He said that the fire control operation should be completed as early as possible and every possible government resources must be utilised to stop the fire from engulfing more shops. He estimated the financial loss up to billions of rupees.