A sudden fire broke out at Landa Bazaar in Sadiqabad near Railway Station on Thursday, destroying dozens of shops and pushcarts. The market had over 200 temporary shops selling used clothes and was located between the railway station and Railway Road.
Rescue 1122 team declared a red code and reported that sparks from an electric pole started the fire, which spread rapidly. Firefighters received the emergency call at 12:14 pm. Thick black smoke filled the sky as fire engines from multiple cities, along with municipal and factory fire teams, rushed to contain the flames. Rescue 1122 teams from all four tehsils of the Rahim Yar Khan District were present.
A shopkeeper estimated that hundreds of shops burned down, each carrying stock worth Rs3 million to Rs4 million due to Eidul Fitr’s approach. Strong winds worsened the situation, affecting a 2km area of the market.
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Another trader blamed the fire on unplanned electricity poles and local ovens used for roasting peanuts and making sweets. He said similar fires had happened before. Many shops at Landa Bazaar in Sadiqabad were made of wooden planks, making them highly flammable. He also criticised Pakistan Railways for allotting these shops without a proper leasing process, leading to poor market planning.
During the fire, an old railway coach parked on the tracks caught fire. Pakistan Railways spokesperson Babar Ali Raza clarified that it was not a passenger coach but an old one used by track maintenance staff. It contained tools and diesel, but the railway’s signal system remained safe.
Deputy Commissioner Rahim Yar Khan Khuram Pervaiz visited the Landa Bazaar in Sadiqabad to oversee rescue efforts. He stated that six fire engines and 22 fire tenders were actively working to control the fire. He assured that authorities would investigate the cause of repeated fires in the area.
Landa Bazaar has seen similar incidents before. Fires in 2015, 2017 and 2021 destroyed hundreds of shops, causing significant losses.