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Fire at Karachi’s Rimpa Plaza Controlled, No Casualties Reported
A fire at Karachi’s Rimpa Plaza has been controlled, with no casualties reported. Cooling efforts are ongoing as officials investigate the cause.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-03
Fire at Karachi’s Rimpa Plaza Controlled, No Casualties Reported

A fire broke out on Tuesday at Rimpa Plaza, a 13-story building on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, but was successfully controlled after a few hours of effort, according to rescue officials. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that its teams, equipped with two ambulances, four fire trucks, and a snorkel, promptly responded to the blaze. However, extinguishing the fire proved challenging due to improper ventilation within the building.

The fire reportedly started on the fourth floor, which primarily housed godowns storing spare parts and raw materials for tyre production. The flames quickly spread, fully engulfing the fourth and fifth floors while partially damaging the sixth and seventh. The incident disrupted traffic near Saeed Manzil, with diversions routed through Regal Chowk and Gul Plaza, as per Karachi Traffic Police.

Rescue official Hassaan Khan stated that a short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire. "Cooling operations are underway to ensure the fire doesn’t reignite," he added.

Widespread Concerns Over Fire Safety Standards

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and directed immediate action to prevent similar events. He also instructed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and related departments to inspect buildings for fire safety compliance and submit a detailed report on the Rimpa Plaza fire.

Fire safety remains a pressing concern in Karachi, where incidents have become increasingly frequent due to inadequate precautions. A recent audit by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) revealed that none of the 265 commercial buildings assessed in the city had a fire safety certificate or no-objection certificate (NOC). Alarmingly, over 155 buildings lacked basic fire alarms or smoke detectors, while the electrical systems in many were deemed unsatisfactory.

Past tragedies highlight the dire consequences of such lapses. Last year, a fire at R.J. Shopping Mall on Rashid Minhas Road resulted in 11 fatalities and five injuries, also caused by a suspected short circuit.

The Sindh High Court has directed provincial authorities to ensure rigorous inspections of shopping malls and commercial buildings to address these shortcomings. However, the recurrence of incidents underscores the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations.
Tagged:

FireSafety

KarachiFire

BuildingSafety

UrbanSafety

RimpaPlazaFire
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