Inquiry body formed to probe massive fire in H-9 Sunday Bazaar

ISLAMABAD: The district administration on Wednesday constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the massive fire that engulfed the H-9 Sunday Bazaar on Tuesday night, destroying hundreds of stalls and causing substantial financial losses. The committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner General, has been directed to submit its report within three days. Officials said the inquiry would determine the exact cause of the blaze, identify factors that contributed to its rapid spread, assess the response time of rescue services, and estimate the overall losses incurred by traders. The fire erupted in Block C of the weekly market on Tuesday night. Shoe vendors largely occupy the block. Preliminary reports suggested that hundreds of stalls were reduced to ashes despite rescue teams’ efforts to contain the flames. The latest incident is the fifth major fire to hit the Sunday Bazaar since 2017, raising fresh concerns over safety arrangements at one of the capital’s busiest weekly markets. The first major blaze occurred on Aug 24, 2017, when a fire in Block C destroyed around 550 stalls dealing in garments, utensils, and snacks. Another 98 stalls in Block H and the adjoining shoe market were also damaged. On July 19, 2018, about 110 stalls in the E and F blocks were destroyed in a massive fire at the bazaar. On October 30, 2019, at least 300 stalls in blocks D, E, and H were gutted. About 133 stalls were gutted in a blaze that engulfed the weekly bazaar on December 7, 2022. Of the total, 101 stalls were located in F-Block, while the rest were in the E-Block. In July 2024, nearly 700 stalls were gutted after a blaze spread rapidly through the garment section following rainfall. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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