Goods worth $300m lost to Kunduz market fire

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): A fire that engulfed a marketplace in the capital of northern Kunduz province caused $300 million in losses to traders, the affected shop owners and an official said on Friday.

The fire that broke out in a rice and garments market in the limits of the 3rd police district of Kunduz City left at least 25 shops gutted, said police official Mohammad Saleh, who blamed the outbreak on an electrical shortcut.

He said firefighters, who reached the scene in time, had been able to extinguish the fire. But the affected shopkeepers said the fire brigade could not reach in time and as a result they incurred heavy financial losses.

The market chief, Ghulam Rassoul, said the market was already closed for Eidul Fitr festival and local residents and police put out the fire.

He said the goods of all shopkeepers in the market were reduced to ashes and some damaged during evacuation efforts. He claimed the fire caused the traders $300 million in losses.

An affected shopkeeper, Abdul Ghani, said he lost garments worth $1.5 million in two shops to the fire.

“Everything I had was destroyed in the fire. I am a poor person and lack money to revive my business. The government should compensate all affected shop owners,” he said.

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