Fire destroys 20 shops, six vehicles in Battagram

BATTAGRAM: A huge fire destroyed six vehicles and 20 shops in Shamlai area here on Tuesday night, the police said.

They said that the fire broke out around 12am, engulfing the shops in a market and vehicles parked there.

They said the police reached the spot immediately after getting the information.

Residents said Rescue 1122 firefighters also reached the spot soon afterwards and controlled the blaze after hectic efforts but not before the fire had destroyed 20 shops and six vehicles, inflicting millions of losses on the owners.

Police officials told Dawn that it was yet to be ascertained as to what caused the fire. They said that an investigation was under way into the incident.

Noor Qadeem, a local resident, said that it was a busy market as people of the nearby mountainous areas regularly visited the market for shopping.

Former MPA Nawabzada Wali Mohammad Khan and local people urged the government to announce compensation for the owners of destroyed shops and vehicles