Valuables worth million of rupees were reduced to ashes in two separate fire incidents in the provincial metropolis on Saturday. In the first incident, a fire broke out in a market located in Anarkali at around 2:00 am that engulfed at least six buildings and 15 shops. The firefighters successfully extinguished the fire after battling more than seven hours. However, they said only two people sustained injuries while no causality was reported.
It was presumed that the fire erupted due to short-circuit as the area was very congested. Traders had stored firecrackers and decorative materials in the shops and godowns which caused the fire, said the nearby traders. However, the affected traders claimed that they had incurred colossal losses due this incident. In the second incident, a fire also broke out near Chobacha railway crossing where personnel of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) were working, said the rescue sources. They said the precious records of the company were also burnt. Police have registered cases and started investigations.