The Centaurus Mall in Islamabad, Pakistan has recently suffered a serious fire. The incident occurred at the third floor of the mall. The fire was caused by a breach in the fire safety regulations. According to a report, the Management of the mall had violated approved building plans and failed to train firefighters.
Fire breaks out at third floor of Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall
A massive fire broke out at Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall, resulting in evacuation of many people. The fire began on the third floor and spread rapidly. Rescue teams arrived shortly thereafter and managed to bring the fire under control. The building has been sealed until further investigation can be carried out.
Fire brigade members and the Pakistan Navy were among those participating in the rescue operation. A helicopter was also requested to prevent the fire from spreading up to the higher floors. Many people took to social media to share video clips of people running down the escalators in panic.
Fire brigades were dispatched to the mall and were able to contain the flames before it spread to other floors. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The fire was brought under control after an intense two-hour effort. The fire was brought under control after the fire brigade lowered a 66-foot crane to put out the blaze. The firefighting team then began a mopping operation, which was completed within a few hours.
The Islamabad deputy commissioner has appointed an inquiry committee to investigate the fire and rescue efforts. The committee will also review the fire protection system and alarms to determine their functionality. The deputy commissioner of Islamabad said the mall is closed while it investigates the fire. However, he added that traders should take their valuables out of the mall until the report comes out.
Luckily, there were no casualties but the fire has destroyed the food court. The fire began in a restaurant named Monal and quickly spread throughout the entire food court. Rescuers are working to extinguish the flames and prevent the spread of the blaze to the rest of the mall.
Management violated approved building plan
The CDA has imposed a fine on the management of the Centaurus Mall Islamabad for violating the approved building plan. The CDA deputy commissioner has stated that the management of the mall has violated the approved plan in several areas. This includes the unauthorised use of the basement for commercial purposes. In addition, the management has violated the approved building plan by establishing small kiosks in the mezzanine basement, which is supposed to be reserved for car parking.
The CDA’s internal audit of the Centaurus mall has pointed out more than a dozen violations of the approved building plan by the management. The audit also cites violations by the architect and construction company involved. The audit also points out the fact that the management of the mall had occupied the building without the approval of the Capital Development Authority.
Moreover, the management of the Centaurus Mall Islamabad failed to submit a contingency plan to the CDA. This shows a lack of concern for fire safety and a flagrant disregard for the standards of the Pakistan Building Code and CDA Building Standards. In addition, the management of the mall failed to comply with the requirements set forth in the annual safety agreement and the fire safety plan.
Firefighters including the Pakistan Air Force, Rescue 1122 and the Federal Investigation Agency are investigating the fire in Islamabad. Authorities say that unidentified individuals may have started the fire. However, the incident has highlighted a number of safety issues in the country and the need to improve fire safety and emergency preparedness. On a radio show, a popular radio personality recounted the experience of her friend’s mother. The incident has led to calls for added safety measures in high-rise buildings in Islamabad.
A recent report by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) found evidence of Master Plan violations in two Islamabad shopping centres. In one case, the mall’s owners, Pak Gulf Construction (Pvt) Ltd., violated the plan’s requirements by encroaching on a service road. The CDA submitted a comprehensive report to the Supreme Court detailing the situation.
Food court violated fire safety regulations
According to a recent investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad’s Emergency and Disaster Management Department, the food court at the mall violated fire safety regulations. Its kitchens were not equipped with fire-resistant materials and supplies, and its wiring was not constructed as per CDA regulations. In addition, the food court’s tenants failed to follow proper fire safety regulations.
The Centaurus Mall Islamabad was not constructed as per the approved building plan, and the food court did not have trained firefighters. According to the CDA, a mall must have firefighting personnel inside its buildings, regardless of whether it is closed. Also, the plan for the mall failed to include the Monal Restaurant, which was later added, even though the MCI approved the plan. In addition, the extension of the mall was not in compliance with building bylaws.
The fire started on the third floor of the mall, spreading upwards. It eventually reached the 20th floor. The fire caused a stampede inside the mall, and smoke could be seen for several kilometers away. Fire tenders and fire officials spent several hours bringing the blaze under control.
The Pakistan Air Force and Navy also participated in the firefighting effort, and a helicopter crew was sent to stop the fire from spreading further. Hundreds of families were busy shopping on various floors when the fire broke out. The fire caused a short-circuit in the food court. The delay in the arrival of rescue teams increased the intensity of the fire, and it later spread to the other sections of the mall.
Firefighting efforts ended after two hours. Lawmen, firefighters, and rescuers joined the mission and rescued people from the burning building. As a result, the building was sealed off for further investigation. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but it is believed to have been caused by a lack of fire safety regulations.
Management did not have trained firefighters
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has ordered immediate action following a fire at the Centaurus Mall in Islamabad. The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, and authorities are working to determine how the incident started and why management did not have trained firefighters. The mall, which is part of the Centaurus project, is comprised of several buildings, including a 36-floor under-construction hotel, three 23-floor residential towers, and a four-story shopping mall.
A spokesperson for the Islamabad Police department said that the building will be sealed off after the rescue operation. The Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad has also ordered that the building be sealed off. While the fire was initially contained within the mall, firefighters from the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy were called in to help.
According to reports, the fire started in an electrical circuit and spread to a residential apartment. Fortunately, no one was injured. The fire was put out quickly and safely by firefighters from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Pakistan Navy, and the Pakistan Navy. Despite the chaos and panic, there were no casualties. The fire was a major setback for Centaurus Mall, but the emergency services were able to save those inside the shopping mall.
The fire was put out quickly, but there was a significant loss of property in the mall. The food court’s ceiling and kitchen supplies were not constructed to be fire-resistant, and the wiring was not installed to meet safety standards. Furthermore, the mall failed to employ trained firefighters, which is a requirement under the CDA bylaws.
The fire is still being investigated. The authorities are trying to determine whether or not the fire was intentionally started. In addition, they will be examining whether or not the fire alarms and firefighting equipment were in working order at the time of the fire. They will also look into what the management did to prevent the fire from spreading. A detailed report of the incident will be submitted to the Ministry of Interior.
