Landhi factory blaze extinguished after 18-hour long fire-fighting

KARACHI: Fire that erupted at a multi-storey textile factory in Landhi’s industrial area on Friday afternoon was extinguished after 18 hours long fire fighting, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The blaze has gutted several parts of the factory building causing demolition of walls and the structure.

Despite the intensity of the blaze, no loss of life reported at the factory, where around 500 workers were employed.

Initially two fire tenders were dispatched to the site but later more fire tenders with two water bowsers and a snorkel were sent when the department’s officials declared the blaze ‘third-degree fire’.

According to eyewitnesses the fire brigade personnel reached late to the spot despite they were informed about the incident.

The factory’s General Manager has claimed that half of the three-storey factory building has been gutted in the fire. Intense fire has thoroughly damaged the structure leaving hundreds factory workers unemployed.

Factory workers said that the majority of the workers were not inside the building when the fire broke out, as it erupted during Friday prayers and the workers had gone to offer prayers at the nearby mosque. “There would have been a massive loss of life if the fire broke out before or after Friday prayers.” Only a few workers were present at the factory when the fire broke out and all of them were able to escape safely, a worker said.