KARACHI: At least one person has died and three others fell unconscious due to inhaling smoke as a massive fire broke out at a mega departmental store on Jail Chowrangi, damaging goods worth millions of rupees, here on Wednesday – first crowded day of the month.

Following the incident at around 11 am, fire brigade, rescue teams, Police, paramilitary ranger personnel and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area, and began rescue operations.

The fire incident came a day after the Sindh government launched some 50 ambulances of the rescue service under the Rescue 1122 project in the port city.

As per Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab, the fire broke out at basement of the super store which engulfed the upper portions and affected the adjacent buildings as well.

He said the entire building has been evacuated; all the people have been rescued from the 170 flats in the building. The fire brigade reached immediately after receiving the report.

Eight fire tenders, two firearms, two bowsers, Rescue 1122, and members of law enforcement agencies were engaged in putting out the fire. The Administrator said the fire brigade personnel remained present there till the situation was brought under control. Wahab said the fire in the basement could have caused huge loss of life and property if it had not been brought under control in time.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022