KARACHI: A fire broke out Monday night at the Al-Najeebi Electronics Market in Karachi’s Saddar area but was extinguished swiftly. Cooling operations are now being conducted to eliminate any risk of re-ignition.
According to Fire Brigade officials, the blaze initially spread through the seventh-floor parking area of the building, causing severe damage and completely destroying three parked vehicles. Responding to the emergency, three fire tenders were dispatched to the site, but as the situation escalated, additional firefighting units were deployed.
The market administration reported that the upper floors of the building serve as office spaces above shops dealing in electronics and mobile devices. Rescue 1122 teams also mobilized ambulances to the scene as a precautionary measure.
Firefighters encountered considerable difficulties due to the fire’s location on the seventh floor. The market administration noted that several individuals remain stranded on higher floors. Officials confirmed that one person, who suffered from critical suffocation caused by dense smoke inside the building, has been hospitalized for treatment.
Mayor Karachi announced via social media that the fire had been successfully contained. He added that Karachi Municipal Corporation firefighting teams, including a snorkel, were actively involved in the effort.
Upon hearing of the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah contacted key city authorities, including the mayor, commissioner, and police inspector general, stressing the urgency of saving lives. He instructed them to prioritize the immediate evacuation of anyone trapped inside the building.
In addition, directives were issued to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to maintain an uninterrupted water supply for firefighting. The chief minister called on municipal officials, local administrators, and law enforcement agencies to work in close coordination to ensure a rapid and efficient rescue operation.
