JALALABAD, May 14 (Pajhwok Afghan News): At least 50 shops were burned to ashes as fire erupted in a market in Jalalabad, capital of the eastern Nangarhar province, on Sunday causing a loss of millions afghanis to the shopkeepers.
The fire was caused by a power generator in a woodwork shop around noon. Soon it spread to the adjacent shops in the market mostly housed by carpenters resulting in gutting of 50 shops, including a hotel and a snooker club.
Gula Khan, a carpenter, said the power generator caught fire due to the scorching heat. He said all the machinery and wooden furniture had burned to ashes. Khan said the flames engulfed the adjacent shops in the market, situated near the Hindu temple causing huge financial losses to the shopkeepers.
Qadir, another carpenter, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had received 250,000 afhganis in advance from a customer. But all the woods he had purchased and the furniture prepared were burned.
Plume of smoke can be seen from distant areas. Many people rushed to the market to help the shopkeepers in extinguishing the fire but all their efforts proved in vain as the blaze rapidly spread and engulfed the whole market. Fire brigade and police personnel arrived on the spot and they were busy in fighting the flames till the filing of this report.
Hayatullah Gahiz