Inquiry Ordered Into Massive H-9 Bazaar Fire

A massive fire erupted at Islamabad’s H-9 Weekly Bazaar at around 10:30 pm on Tuesday, engulfing hundreds of stalls and causing extensive financial losses. Rescue teams rushed to the scene soon after the blaze broke out and launched a large-scale firefighting operation to contain the fire.

According to rescue sources, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after a three-hour operation, while the cooling process has also been completed. The fire primarily affected shoe and clothing stalls, with more than 380 stalls coming under its impact.

Initial estimates suggest that the fire caused losses amounting to nearly Rs. 120 million. Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the incident, although an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the factors that led to the outbreak and spread of the fire.

Following the incident, the Office of the District Magistrate, Islamabad Capital Territory, constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the H-9 Bazaar fire. The committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), includes representatives from the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, Islamabad Police, Civil Defence, Capital Development Authority (CDA), and other relevant departments.

According to the official notification, the committee will assess the response time of rescue services, determine the cause of the fire, evaluate the extent of damages, and recommend measures for the operation of the remaining safe sections of the market. The committee has been directed to submit its report within three days.