KARACHI: A devastating fire that broke out early Wednesday at Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi destroyed at least 250 shops and left merchandise worth billions of rupees in ruins. The fire reportedly started around 3:50 am on the rooftop, where generators and chillers were installed, and quickly spread to the third and fourth floors. Shops selling ready-made garments, unstitched fabric, furniture, and electronics were among those damaged.
As the blaze spread, shopkeepers and staff rushed to the scene, some risking their lives to salvage goods and cash. Initially, four fire tenders were sent, but the situation escalated, requiring 11 fire tenders, two snorkels, and several water bowsers. Despite these efforts, firefighters faced delays in water supply from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), which hindered early firefighting attempts.
The fire triggered panic in nearby residential areas, particularly in D Block of Saima Shopping Mall, where families were forced to evacuate. According to officials, the fire was contained after more than four hours, but the damage was substantial. Six ambulances, along with rescue teams from various agencies, were dispatched, but it took nearly 30 minutes before proper firefighting operations began.
Shopkeepers, particularly women, expressed their anger over the delayed response from civic agencies, including the lack of water supply and non-operational fire safety systems at the mall. Several shopkeepers lamented that their lifelong savings had gone up in flames, while others expressed frustration over the lack of preparedness and the absence of functional firefighting measures.
The investigation indicated that the fire likely originated from an electrical fault in the control room on the third floor, with malfunctioning chillers contributing to the incident. This incident marks the third major fire in a commercial building within a week.
