A big fire broke out at a tobacco warehouse in the Azamabad area of Swabi early Thursday morning, and it is still not under control even after 38 hours.
The warehouse, owned by Muhammad Bashir, had three floors full of tobacco, which is used for making snuff and cigarettes. The fire started at around 4 a.m. on Thursday. Since then, Rescue 1122 firefighters have been working non-stop to control it.
A Rescue 1122 officer, Luqman Khan, said it has been hard to put out the fire because the warehouse had no ventilators or exhaust system. Firefighters had to drill holes in the walls to reach the flames. The fire was so intense that four firefighters fainted during the operation.
More help had to be called from nearby districts like Mardan and Nowshera to help control the fire.
Warehouse owner Muhammad Bashir said,
“Everything I worked for is now burnt. I have lost all my capital. I believe someone set this fire on purpose.”
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but Bashir is sure it was not accidental.
District Emergency Officer Owais Babar promised full support and said the rescue team will stay at the location until the fire is completely out.
Unfortunately, fires like this are common in Pakistan due to poor safety systems, weak building structures, and negligence. Many buildings lack emergency exits, fire alarms, and proper wiring.
This fire is similar to other recent incidents:
- In June, a fire in Karachi’s Millennium Mall destroyed hundreds of shops.
- Another fire in the Export Processing Zone, Karachi, burned down three factories and injured five people, including four firefighters.
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