A tragic fire incident occurred at an illegal petrol pump in Shah Faisal Colony-3 on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of a 55-year-old man, identified as Sirajuddin. The illegal petrol pump was located on the ground floor of a three-storey residential building. The fire erupted and quickly spread, severely damaging the building and putting the lives of residents at risk.
Rescue Efforts Save 15 Residents
Rescue teams acted swiftly, saving around 15 residents, including women and children, who had climbed to the roof of the building for safety. Rescue-1122 official Hassaan Khan confirmed that the fire spread rapidly due to the oil-based nature of the blaze, which made it difficult to extinguish with water. Foam was used to control the fire, and cooling efforts continued well into the night.
Cause of Fire Under Investigation
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire. CCTV footage retrieved from the scene shows a motorcyclist passing by and throwing something at the petrol pump, possibly a cigarette, which may have triggered the fire. However, the footage is unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
Illegal Petrol Pump in Shah Faisal Colony
Korangi SSP Tauheed Rehman Memon stated that police had taken action against the illegal petrol pump two months ago, but the operator had obtained a court order allowing it to continue operations. The incident has raised concerns about the widespread illegal sale of petrol in open areas across Karachi, posing serious safety hazards.
CM Sindh Orders Crackdown on Illegal Petrol Sales
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed the commissioner of Karachi and DC Korangi to supervise rescue operations and investigate the incident. He called for strict legal action against those involved in the illegal sale of petrol and ordered a citywide crackdown to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Shah Faisal Colony fire highlights the dangers associated with illegal petrol sales in residential areas, urging authorities to take immediate measures to prevent further tragedies.
