The fire that broke out at Centaurus Mall in Islamabad on Sunday was brought under control after two hours, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) confirmed.
CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Retired Captain Muhammad Usman Younis said that Fire Brigade, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and Rescue 1122 participated in the fire fighting operation.
سینٹورس مال میں لگی آگ پر قابو پالیا گیا، چیف کمشنر اسلام آباد کیپٹن عثمان
— Capital Development Authority Islamabad. (@CDAthecapital) October 9, 2022
سینٹورس مال پر لگی آگ کو دو گھنٹے کے آپریشن کے بعد کنٹرول کیا گیا، چیف کمشنر اسلام آباد کیپٹن عثمان
آگ پر قابو پانے میں فائر بریگیڈ، نیوی، ائیر فورس، ریسکیو 1122 نے حصہ لیا، چیف کمشنر اسلام آباد
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said the mall and its attached residential towers are now being sealed till the technical team reports on their structural strength after the fire.
As a precaution, the Centaurus mall and its allied residential towers are being sealed till the Technical team reports on the structural capability of the towers after this fire. The shopping mall also is completely cardon off and secured to avoid any theft etc.
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) October 9, 2022
He thanked the concerned agencies that helped in controlling the fire.
District Administration is thankful to MCI, CDA, Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi and teams of Armed forces for timely responding to the fire which erupted in Centauras Mall Islamabad today.
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) October 9, 2022
Dawn News TV had earlier reported that residential apartments in the building had been evacuated and fire crews were busy dousing the fire even as smoke billowed from the building.
Television footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the building, while other clips showed people trying to escape using the mall’s escalators.
Earlier, Islamabad Police said that the search operation in the mall is going on.
مال میں موجود تمام افراد کو بحفاظت نکال لیا گیا ہے۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) October 9, 2022
ٹیم مال کے اندر سرچ آپریشن کر رہی ہے۔#ICTP
The city police chief, senior police officers, administration officials and rescue teams were present at the spot.
Police also said that a helicopter is also being called to help in rescue and firefighting operations.
He added that the fire inside the mall was “under control” and no shops were damaged although there were still some flames on the outside of the mall that were being extinguished.
البتہ مال کے بیرونی حصہ میں ہلکی آگ موجود ہے جسے بجھایا جارہا ہے۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) October 9, 2022
شہریوں سے گزارش ہے کہ رش نہ بنائیں تاکہ ریسکیو ٹیمیں اپنا کام با آسانی سرانجام دے سکیں۔
#ICTP
Meanwhile, a Pakistan Navy spokesperson had said that the agency was also assisting in the fire-fighting efforts, adding that a navy team and three fire tenders were in use.
Taking notice of the incident, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he has ordered the relevant institutions and authorities to take immediate action.
“It is very unfortunate that this incident took place in this well-known business hub. Pray that there is no loss of life. Condolences and sympathies for the financial loss to the victims,” he tweeted.
اسلام آباد کے سینٹاریس مال میں آتشزدگی کا نوٹس لیتے ہوئے وفاقی دارالحکومت کے متعلقہ اداروں اور حکام کو فوری کارروائی کی ہدایت کی ہے۔ بہت افسوس ہے کہ اس معروف کاروباری مرکز میں یہ واقعہ ہوا ہے۔ دعا ہے کہ کوئی جانی نقصان نہ ہوا ہو۔ متاثرین کے مالی نقصانات پر افسوس اور ہمدردی ہے۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 9, 2022
