DERA GHAZI KHAN: A fire broke out late on Monday in the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) premises, extinguished by the fire brigades departments of several districts after nine hours, sources said. Authorities are of the view that a short circuit could have spread the fire. However, they have yet to identify the real cause. More than 20 vehicles of the fire brigade departments of Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited managed to extinguish the fire after a nine-hour struggle. Authorities also closed down the DG Khan-Quetta highway and an emergency was declared in the area. No one was allowed to enter or come near the PAEC premises, except for the fire brigade vehicles. The authorities barred even the Punjab Police from taking part in the rescue operation with the area around the PAEC office and plant on fire. Sources said that losses from the fire were rumoured to be in millions but officials were yet to give a figure.A little more from KUNA:
PAEC officials told KUNA that the blaze erupted on Monday night in Dera Ghazi Khan district. They said it was not known what set off the fire. Official said fire brigades had been called to vanquish the fire, adding, "Once the fire is put off, thorough investigations would be launched." According to the eyewitnesses blaze clouds could be seen from far away. They said the fire has spread to more than two kilometers of area. A senior PAEC official, on the condition of anonymity, said that though the fire has engulfed large area and is spreading with speed but PAEC installations are unharmed. He said the army is responsible for the security of PAEC and its installations. He added that the fire has been controlled and hoped to vanquish it completely soon.