Fire at super store in Karachi’s Zamzama brought 70pc under control: Rescue 1122

KARACHI: A fire, which erupted in the basement of a superstore during the early hours of Monday in the Zamzama area of Karachi, has been brought under control by up to 70 per cent, officials said.

The fire broke out in Imtiaz Superstore’s Zamzama branch. The locality is a high-end shopping area, and the store is frequented by thousands daily.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson, Hassaanul Haseeb Khan, told Dawn that the blaze had been brought under control by up to 70pc. He said that the Rescue 1122 command and control room received information about the fire at around 5:38am, which was traced to an ATM triggered by a suspected short circuit.

It later spread to the superstore’s basement, where inflammable material such as cooking oil, cosmetics and plastic were stored, he said.

Khan added that the fire then spread to the mezzanine floor and then to the first and second floors of the store. At present, the firemen were busy extinguishing the fire from six spots by breaking windows and walls.

Twelve fire tenders of the Rescue 1122, as well as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) fire brigade and the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC), were engaged in bringing the fire under control.

Earlier, the spokesperson said that the central command and control room immediately dispatched fire and rescue teams, along with ambulances and fire brigade trucks, after receiving the alert.

“Rescue 1122 is working to control the fire,” the spokesperson added. No casualties have been reported in the incident so far.

In a later update, the 1122 spokesperson said firefighting teams have entered the store’s premises and are continuing efforts to extinguish the blaze, adding that the cause and nature of the fire are still unknown.

The director-general of Rescue 1122 also dispatched a specialised response team to the scene.

Meanwhile, Karachi Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory, saying fire brigade vehicles are on site. “No traffic issues have been reported, but the public is advised to drive safely,” the advisory added.

Traffic is being managed, and the public is advised to contact the Karachi Traffic Police helpline at 1915 for assistance, the advisory said further.

Adviser to the Chief Minister Sindh on Rehabilitation, Gian Chand Essrani, has taken notice of the fire incident.

There were no reports of casualties, as the management and staff were safely evacuated, he confirmed. Esrani said that 24 to 25 people present in the building were successfully rescued, describing the timely response as commendable.

He added that the area falls under the Cantonment Board, where a fire safety audit had previously been conducted. “Completing the rescue operation swiftly and preventing further damage remains our top priority,” he said.

He further said that a transparent investigation into the incident would be carried out once the fire is brought under control.

Earlier on Sunday, a fire broke out in a parked container-mounted trailer in the Federal B Area, Karachi.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said the blaze erupted in the front portion of the trailer, which was badly damaged, and was extinguished by firefighters.