Justice Baqar vows to accommodate Arshi Manzil affected people
Imran
Justice Baqar vows to
accommodate Arshi Manzil affected people
KARACHI Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has
said that the eruption of fire in Arshi Manzil, a six-storey commercial and
residential building, at Aisha Manzil is the result of the utter failure,
criminal negligence, and inefficiency of the Sindh Building Control Authority
(SBCA) and other concerned civic bodies and their officers.
Had the SBCA implemented all the building codes such a huge fire would not have
claimed three innocent lives and reduced 74 apartments and 130 shops,” he
deplored and went on saying that he had ordered an inquiry into the incident in
which responsibility would also be fixed against the delinquent so that they
could be brought to book.
Every building must be equipped with a fire safety system, and fire tender
route but sorry to say all these important safety measures have been ignored.
“I had already issued such orders for carrying out safety and security audits
of the public and private buildings so that such incidents could be avoided,”
he said and added that he would ensure safety and security audit of all the
important buildings so that shortcomings could be overcome.
The CM said that the assessment of the losses caused to the residents and the
traders would be assessed. “The Sindh government would try to support the
residents and the traders,” he said.
To a question, the CM said that he has directed the district administration not
to allow anybody to start living in the burnt apartments until and unless the
SBCA inspect the building and declares its status. “I have directed the
district administration to establish camps for the affected people so that they
could stay there till the building is inspected,” he said and added the
residents of the apartment would only be allowed one by one to visit their flat
and secure their remnant households and lock the apartment.
The deputy commissioner has designated two school buildings - Maulana
Altaf Hussain Hali, Azizabad and Allama Shabir Usmani Block-14, FB Area to
house the affected families
Earlier, the chief minister inspected the burnt buildings and shops and met
with the affected people. He was told that 74 apartments and 130 shops were
gutted with fire. The flats on the backside of the building remained safe.
Deputy Commissioner Central Fawad Soomro briefing the CM on the spots said that
the fire broke out at Arshi Manzil, Gulberg subdivision at around 5 pm to
51.5pm on Wednesday due to reportedly short circuit. The fire initially broke out
in the commercial shop situated on the ground floor. There are many shops for
furniture, mattresses, perfumes, and jewellery on the ground floor. The fire
suddenly started engulfing all the shops and four residential floors. The Fire
brigade and 1122 Rescue were mobilized promptly and reached the spot-on time.
The quantum of the blaze was so huge that it took considerable time to
extinguish fire.
District administration, Police, Rangers and firefighters, the successful
rescue operation was carried out. At around 10.27 MP three dead bodies were
recovered. They were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
