Overview
- Rescuers began methodical searches of the weakened structure, with authorities listing roughly 54 to 65 people as missing and warning of further collapses.
- The blaze erupted late Saturday at the multi‑storey market of about 1,200 shops, where flammable goods and poor ventilation fueled rapid fire spread and heavy smoke.
- Firefighting involved more than two dozen tenders, multiple snorkels, water bowsers and over 100 personnel, with access repeatedly hindered by intense heat and structural damage.
- Police and rescue officials said an electrical fault such as a short circuit or circuit breaker failure is suspected, though the exact cause awaits the formal probe.
- Provincial leaders directed enforcement of fire-safety rules and loss assessments for traders, with industry bodies estimating damages of roughly Rs2–2.5 billion.