Massive fire ravages Islamabad's H-9 Bazaar, over 376 stalls gutted

ISLAMABAD: A massive fire broke out at the H-9 Bazaar near Peshawar Morr on Tuesday night, engulfing multiple sections of the market and destroying more than 376 stalls, officials and rescue authorities said.

The blaze spread rapidly across nine sections of the market before firefighters managed to bring it under control after a prolonged operation involving Rescue 1122, the district administration and Pakistan Navy fire crews. No casualties were reported.

According to preliminary estimates, the fire caused losses worth approximately Rs150 million. Officials said the blaze reportedly originated in the clothing section before spreading to adjacent stalls.

A Rescue 1122 report obtained by Pakistan Today stated that the fire erupted at approximately 9:50pm and spread within minutes. Although a fire brigade vehicle was stationed at the market, it had been moved outside the premises after closing hours, while the bazaar had already been locked for the night.

Rescue officials said the scale of the fire quickly overwhelmed available resources, prompting the deployment of six fire tenders, along with support from Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi and Pakistan Navy firefighting teams.

The report also highlighted several fire safety concerns, including the absence of fire hydrants and the use of cloth coverings and temporary tents over numerous stalls, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly from one structure to another.

Market authorities, however, maintained that the use of LPG cylinders is strictly prohibited within the bazaar and that regular enforcement operations are conducted. They said nine vendors had been arrested a day earlier for violating the ban.

Several stallholders and eyewitnesses criticised what they described as a delayed administrative response during the initial stages of the emergency. They claimed that some senior officials arrived at the scene nearly half an hour after the fire had intensified.

Director of the District Disaster Management Authority (DMA), Dr Anam Fatima, remained on-site throughout the operation and supervised rescue and firefighting efforts.

The Islamabad administration has constituted an inquiry committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), to investigate the causes of the fire, assess the damage and review the response of emergency services. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within three days.

Speaking to Dawn, Dr Fatima said authorities were examining all possible causes of the incident and would use CCTV footage to determine how the fire started.

“We have previously taken several preventive measures, including action against unauthorised subletting of stalls, restrictions on external interference in market operations, and a ban on storing solar panel batteries inside the bazaar,” she said.

The latest incident has once again raised questions about fire safety arrangements at the H-9 Sunday Bazaar, which houses 2,743 stalls and has witnessed a series of major fires over the past decade.

Official records show that at least six major fire incidents have occurred at the market during the last nine years. Nearly 700 stalls were damaged in a fire on July 10, 2024, while previous incidents in 2022, 2019, 2018, and 2017 also resulted in significant losses for traders.

Despite repeated inquiries following earlier fires, traders say long-term safety improvements and compensation measures have remained limited, leaving vendors vulnerable to recurring disasters.