KARACHI: A huge fire that erupted in a shopping mall in the Saddar area late on Friday night was controlled by half a dozen fire tenders after hectic efforts lasting several hours.

Nobody was reported injured in the incident. Around three dozen shopkeepers were rescued.

Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan Khan told Dawn the blaze erupted in mezzanine floor of International Shopping Centre ostensibly due to some short circuit. It spread up to the fifth floor through wiring and engulfed clothes stored in boxes.

There was no firefighting system and ventilation in the mall. Thick smoke emanating from it caused difficulties for fire fighters who entered the building with the help of ladders and breaking windows.

Around 40 shopkeepers were shifted to the roof who were later on rescued through a snorkel. Six fire tenders managed to extinguish the fire at around 6am. —Staff Reporter