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 spot said that the fire broke out at Arshi Manzil, Gulberg subdivision at around 5 pm to 51.5pm on Wednesday due to a 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 the 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.