A devastating fire at a cotton factory in Faisalabad on Friday resulted in the tragic deaths of three labourers and caused extensive property damage. The incident has cast a spotlight on the alarming frequency of fire outbreaks in the industrial district.
Tragedy Strikes at Allah Mahmood Iqbal Cotton Factory
The fire erupted at the Allah Mahmood Iqbal Cotton Factory, located in Chak 58-JB Lehlaan on Sargodha Road Bypass, under the jurisdiction of the Sandal Bar police station. According to rescue officials, the blaze was triggered when a machine blade broke, producing sparks that ignited highly combustible materials stored inside.
Stacks of old cloth and cotton waste quickly caught fire, creating an inferno that engulfed the three workers present inside. The victims were identified as Jameel, 46, and Muhammad Asghar, 25, both from Layyah, and Adnan from Jampura, district Rajanpur. Tragically, all three were burned alive before help could arrive, their bodies reduced to charred remains.
Rescue Operation and Aftermath
Rescue 1122 teams responded with eight fire tenders and heavy machinery, battling the intense flames for several hours before gaining control. Two ambulances remained on standby during the operation. After extinguishing the fire, a search operation recovered the bodies.
The victims' remains were handed over to Sandal Bar police, who shifted them to the Allied Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations and initiated legal proceedings. The fire's intensity caused a partial collapse of the factory's roof and walls, resulting in losses estimated in the millions of rupees.
Alarming Rise in Faisalabad Fire Incidents
This tragedy is not an isolated event. Statistics reveal a sharp and concerning rise in fire incidents across Faisalabad district. Data obtained shows that in the first 11 and a half months of 2025, a total of 2,041 fire incidents were reported across Faisalabad and its four tehsils.
The human cost of these blazes is severe:
- 30 lives lost and 144 people injured.
- Of the injured, 35 received first aid while 92 required hospital treatment.
- The fires affected 427 commercial areas, 449 homes and shops, and 732 open spaces and agricultural fields.
Several tehsils reported significant numbers:
- Chak Jhumra: 100 incidents, including 12 in commercial areas.
- Samundri: 105 incidents, injuring three people.
- Jaranwala: 139 incidents, causing one death and 10 injuries.
- Tandlianwala: 99 incidents, affecting four people.
A particularly deadly factory fire and explosion occurred in November in the Mansoorabad police area of Malikpur, claiming dozens of lives.
Rescue 1122 officials emphasized that their teams work tirelessly, day and night, to control such incidents. They issued a strong plea to all industrial units to strictly follow mandated safety protocols to prevent future tragedies. The recurring nature of these incidents underscores a critical need for enhanced fire safety inspections, worker training, and proper storage of flammable materials in industrial hubs.
