Fire Breaks Out at Rimpa Plaza in Karachi; Efforts to Control Blaze Underway

Rescue 1122 responded promptly to a fire that broke out at Rimpa Plaza in Karachi on Tuesday. Upon receiving the alert, the fire and rescue team, accompanied by two ambulances, four fire brigade trucks, and a snorkel, immediately rushed to the scene.

The blaze reportedly began on the fourth floor of the building, which houses several godowns storing spare parts, alongside various offices and retail spaces, including a clinic. As firefighters battled the flames, the Karachi Traffic Police blocked M.A. Jinnah Road near Saeed Manzil at 1:28 pm, diverting traffic towards Regal Chowk and Gul Plaza to ensure public safety.

Despite ongoing efforts to contain the fire, Rescue 1122 encountered challenges due to inadequate ventilation within the building, which hindered the effective evacuation of smoke.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah swiftly took notice of the situation, ordering immediate measures to extinguish the fire and requesting a detailed report from Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi. The CM also directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant agencies to conduct inspections of buildings to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The fire comes amid growing concerns over inadequate fire safety measures in Karachi’s commercial buildings. Previous incidents have highlighted the city's vulnerability to fire hazards. Last month, a hotel fire on Sharea Faisal was swiftly brought under control, and a significant fire at a multi-storey building off I.I. Chundrigar Road occurred just days ago. Additionally, a gas cylinder explosion in a warehouse in Model Colony resulted in a massive fire on Sunday evening.

In February, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) reported to the Sindh High Court that it had audited over 265 commercial buildings, revealing alarming safety deficiencies. Not a single building was found to have a valid fire safety certificate or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade department. The audit also found that approximately 155 buildings lacked essential fire alarms and smoke detectors, and the wiring and electrical systems in many others were deemed unsatisfactory. Furthermore, nearly 200 buildings were reported to have inadequate or no firefighting equipment.

In response to these findings, the Sindh High Court had ordered the provincial authorities to inspect all shopping malls in Karachi to ensure compliance with fire safety standards. The court's concern was heightened by a series of deadly fires, including a blaze at R.J. Shopping Mall on Rashid Minhas Road last year, which resulted in 11 fatalities and five injuries.

These ongoing incidents have underscored the urgent need for robust fire safety regulations and inspections to protect lives and property in Karachi's commercial spaces.