A case has been registered following a devastating fire at RJ Shopping Mall on Rashid Minhas Road, resulting in the tragic loss of 11 lives early Saturday morning.
The First Information Report (FIR) filed at Shah Faisal Police Station implicates various entities involved in the construction and maintenance of the ill-fated shopping mall.
According to the report, the fire broke out at 5 am, quickly engulfing the entire mall. Panicked individuals trapped within the building resorted to using stairs and an electric lift in desperate attempts to escape the inferno.
Unfortunately, some patrons sustained burn injuries, and several succumbed to the severity of their wounds during treatment at different hospitals.
An alarming revelation from the FIR is the apparent absence of firefighting equipment within the mall premises, intensifying the challenges faced by emergency responders. Initial investigations strongly suggest that a short circuit might have been the catalyst for the devastating fire.
The defendants in this case include the mall builders, accused of using defective materials, alleged approval of flawed maps, issuance of NOC despite safety concerns, and the current management of the shopping complex.
Furthermore, the electric and fire brigade services are under scrutiny for their purported failure to fulfill their responsibilities.
The ongoing examination aims to uncover how the mall’s construction plans were approved, the process behind granting firefighting clearances, and potential collusion involving Karachi Electric (KE) and other relevant agencies.
Investigators will also delve into potential violations of building regulations, the use of substandard materials, and overall negligence that contributed to the loss of lives.
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