Karachi’s Arshi Shopping Centre Fire leaves 5 dead, 250 shops and 450 apartments perished
The building has been sealed for structure inspection by the Sindh Building Control Authority
The death toll from Karachi’s Arshi Shopping Centre fire has surged to 5 on Thursday.
The police said on Thursday that the number of casualties increased to five.
Last night three dead bodies were pulled out of the building on fire.
A multistory building comprising shops and residential apartments caught fire which was put out after several hours of hectic efforts.
The affected building has a total of two commercial floors — ground and mezzanine, and the four floors at the top are residential.
As reported, the fire started due to a short circuit in a shop, but the flames later spread to other shops that were part of the furniture market situated under the building.
The blaze spread rapidly and soon engulfed the entire building comprising 250 shops and 450 apartments.
According to an eyewitness, fire erupted in a mattress shop located at the front of the building and then later spread throughout the structure within two hours.
Following the incident, the caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar took notice of the fire and directed authorities to take control of the situation.
He has also ordered a probe into the incident.
Caretaker CM Sindh also vowed to ensure speedy and detailed inspection of building across Karachi. Speaking to media persons at the fire site on Thursday, he said relevant action would be taken once the inquiry report of yesterday’s fire was issued.
“We are standing with the victims in their pain and will try to comfort them in every possible way,” Baqar said as he visited the site, adding that residents of the building wanted to inspect their houses but they were stopped by the authorities.
The building has been sealed for structure inspection by the Sindh Building Control Authority, he said.
“We will allow residents to check their houses once the inspection is complete,” CM Baqar added.
He added that the district administration had offered shelter and food to all the affected people.
