Body formed to probe Sabzi Mandi fire.

ISLAMABAD -- A committee has been constituted to probe into a fire at Sabzi Mandi in which hundreds of stalls were gutted.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon ordered the constitution of the fact-fading inquiry committee, comprising Additional District Magistrate, Administrator Market Committee, Assistant Commissioner Saddar, District Emergency Officer Rawalpindi and representatives of Islamabad police and the affected vendors.

A notification issued from the office of the DC said on March 3 at 1:10am the fire incident at I-11 Sabzi Mandi was reported. A fire brigade responded but hundreds of vending stalls were burned and damages were caused to edible oil and sugar inventories.

In order to ascertain the facts and factors that led to the fire and its subsequent spread, a fact-finding committee is constituted, it said, adding the terms of reference are to ascertain the cause of the fire and potential threats/facts that led to its spread, extent of the damage, recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future, rehabilitation/future development of the area and any other finding/recommendation.

The fire broke out at the site of onion and potato stalls. Due to the thunderstorm at the time, the flames spread quickly and engulfed the entire area within minutes.

Over a dozen of fire engines were used to extinguish the fire but the strong wind hampered in the rescue works and the fire spread to adjacent and nearby areas, including stalls and...