20 shops gutted in Faizabad market blaze

FAIZABAD (PAN): At least 20 shops were completely gutted after a fire broke out at a marketplace in the provincial capital of northeastern Badakhshan province on Tuesday, causing massive losses to traders, an official said.

Triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, the huge blaze that started at 10am swept through a busy market in Faizabad, the provincial capital, the governor’s spokesman said. Abdul Maroof Rasikh, who blamed the incident on shop owners’ negligence, said the fire was brought under control at around 3pm.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire that took five hours to be extinguished. However, affected shopkeepers estimated their losses at more than 20 million afghanis.

Abdul Ali, who’s shop was burnt in the fire, claimed his goods worth more than 1.5 million afghanis were reduced to ashes. He said the fire comprehensively destroyed 20 shops and partially damaged another up to 40.

myn/ma

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