Fire broke out at a commercial-cum-residential building, CTC Mobile Mall at Teen Talwar area in Clifton here on Saturday afternoon. The seven-storied commercial building is a mobile shopping mall and also house shops clothes on its ground floor, while its upper portion is used for residential purposes.
The fire broke out due to short circuit at a cloth shop, and engulfed many floors of the building. According to fire brigade officials fire tenders from all the stations, including newly purchased snorkel, took part in the rescue activities.
On the request of City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, a helicopter of Pakistan Army also took part in the operation and shifted trapped people from the rooftop of the building.
The fire fighters were facing severe hardships, as the flames blocked many approach ways. The clouds of dense smoke covered the area. The fire brigade managed to save a petrol pump station near the building. It was learnt that the building had no fire-fighting system.
According to details eleven people, including two women and a fire fighter fainted due to suffocation and smoke. They affected persons were shifted to nearby hospitals and discharged after the first aid.
City Nazim personally supervised the operation. Talking to the newsmen on the occasion, that the city government had started the rescue operation with the help of 20 vehicles including fire tenders and snorkel just after getting information of fire in the building.
The timely operation saved many lives and the building was totally vacated and only three persons were reported with minor injuries who were getting treatment.