A KMB reader ‘alias’ was kind enough to send this video captured via his cell phone camera today. It shows the fire that broke out at Clifton today at the Mobile Zone market. This video may seem to be a bit messy as it was captured while driving the vehicle but one can really appreciate the chaos at the scene, notice specially the last 10 seconds where there was a loud explosion from within the building which lead to more confusion.

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The rain started at appoximately 4pm, with very strong gusts of wind and washed off a great deal of things all over the city.

Over 20 damaged billboards on Shahrah e faisal alone 2 wrecked bus stops and one a couple of crashed lamp posts etc. The traffic jam was insane towards the Baloch Colony bridge area.

As a general rule, Shahrah e Faisal should be avoided when the intended route should be heading towards the Baloch Colony bridge. Water tends to accumulate on the left lanes, forcing traffic to squeeze into the right lanes, resulting in a massive jam.
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Fire erupted this morning in Clifton at the Mobile Zone market, also called the CTC building. No deaths confirmed yet, casualties yet to be counted. As reported by Indus News, shopkeepers fled out everyone helping themselves and their neighbours. 3 hours after the fire shopkeepers complain that no one was formally helping them out. They complain that the government sends helicopters when there is a fire at a government owned building but no rescue helicopter has been sent as yet even though fire has spread to all floors of the building.

Watch this space for updates.

A local TV channel, today in breaking news, informed that the Uni-plaza building, Saddar was on fire.
Later this news was confirmed fake by the reporters who reached on spot to find the place as busy as ever and was announced on all radio stataions.I did not see the news on TV but heard it on FM-107 which did not disclose the name of teh TV Channel.
Crazy people creating a hoax.

Breaking News
Looks like people are learning from their elders, a culture of violence. Tonight, Its people from Mahmoodabad using force, blocking one way (road towards Nursery from Baloch bridge) and arranging another event of fire, protest and clash.

A junior who missed his dinner at home picked another senior’s car to get biryani from Karachi Foods when few people tried to stop his car. He didn’t take a chance & rushed through. He saw police reaching & we are for a showdown again tonight. I hope this be controlled before it gets out of hand.

We, Karachities are suckers to a good hearty rain, the minute it starts to pour everyone celebrates as if there is no tomorrow. It has indeed started pouring just now after a heavily overcast late afternoon where we held our breaths in anticipation.

Karachi celebrates, but with a guarded effort, it may mean a much needed relief from the tormenting heat which was made worse by our ‘super-efficient’ KESC an organization which appeared to be adamant at conserving electricity. But on the other hand, rain is known to devaste our roads to the point of floods.

All said — let Karachi celebrate like there was no tomorrow
HEY ITS RAINING

PTCL has started offering DSL broadband services. The details can be found here. Currently they are offering 3 packages, the highest is 1 Mbps with unlimited downloading for Rs. 4999 per moth. Not bad at all, but still a little higher than reach of most people. I talked with PTCL customer rep and she said the speeds mentioned are guaranteed. This is very tempting. Their rates are lower than most other DSL service providers, and the best part is that their billing is integrated with phone bill so you don’t have to pay separately.

Is this the answer to the broadband dream of Pakistan?

Update 1: DAWN

Shara-e-Faisal, near FTC comes back to normality after the local residents started protesting & blocking the road by settings road on fire against KESC & non availability of electricity. Small area from FTC to Regent Plaza became the battle ground between police & angry protesters. I heard police even had to resort to shelling. But as I move from SF to home things are coming back to normal. The event started in the evening I heard.

The local residents were protesting against KESC & non availability of electricity since 2:00pm afternoon. The nearby area is Akhtar Colony I guess.

Farrukh covered fire near Allah Wala chowrangi recently. Ainuddin123 uploads it YOUTUBE.

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On my way back from work at approximately 7pm, as I took the turn from Shahrah e Faisal to Rashid Minhas road, I was faces with immense traffic congestion. It took me over an hour to cross the length of that road and reach the Millenium mall intersection.

At approximately 11.15pm, I was outside, and the jam is still, pretty much there! Anyone has updates on whats causing this?

Traffic seems to be moving, but at a snails pace and the line was very very long!