RAWALPINDI: A multi-storey commercial building in Raja Bazaar was engulfed in smoke after a fire broke out there on Sunday. However, nobody was reported injured.

Four shops were gutted causing a loss of millions of rupees to the owners. However, the fire department and police said the flames were later extinguished.

Earlier, panic gripped traders and shopkeepers in the adjoining markets who started packing their goods while stallholders evacuated the road as the firefighters reached the scene.

Nine fire engines with 30 firefighters from Rescue 1122 along with police contingents arrived the scene and started the firefighting operation.

A police spokesman said SP Rawal Division Babar Joya and SHOs of City and Ganjmandi along with police personnel assisted the firefighting teams.

Traffic moving towards Raja Bazaar was diverted so that the firefighters could do their job without any hindrance, said the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2023