Hafeez Centre Lahore fire causes losses worth millions, rages on after 12 hours

LAHORE: The city’s biggest plaza selling electronics caught fire on Sunday, causing losses worth millions with firefighters still battling flames 12 hours after the flames broke out.

No loss of life took place, fortunately.

According to Geo News, eight fire tenders ran out of water which cause problems in extinguishing the inferno. The fire, according to reports, originated in the second floor of the building. The fire spread to the fourth floor and soon, engulfed the building’s backside as well.

Horrified shopkeepers looked on in horror as merchanise worth millions was destroyed by the flames. Some of the rushed to their shops at the ground floor to carry out expensive items while others helplessly wept.

Earlier, rescue officials were able to evacuate numerous people from the rooftop of the plaza. These people had fled the fourth floor when the fire spread to there and had sought refuge at the building’s roof.

14-member committee set up

Meanwhile, the authorities have set up a 14-member inquiry committee to probe the Hafeez Centre fire incident, a notification said.

Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Riaz has been appointed as the convener of the committee, with assistant commissioner Model Town, SP Model Town, and chief engineer building central zone as its members.

According to the notification, the committee will investigate the incident and submit a report to the commissioner within seven days.