LAHORE: A fire erupted at the immigration counters of the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore on Thursday, completely destroying the equipment, and disrupting the flight operations.
The blaze was later brought under control, while airport officials said it would take some time for the smoke to clear. Passengers were not allowed to enter until the premises were completely clear. Due to the fire, there was a huge rush of passengers in the parking area.
According to the preliminary investigation, the blaze was caused by short-circuiting and it spread rapidly to a large portion of the airport. It caused a stampede at a small level, while the airport was evacuated, the authorities said.
The Airport Security Force personnel were the first to respond to the incident, endeavouring to contain the fire, while firefighters from the Civil Aviation Authority also raced to the scene. Despite their efforts, the fire destroyed the immigration system, forcing the suspension of flight operations.
Team Formed to Determine Reason for Fire
Later, a team of the Civil Aviation Authority officials was formed to determine the reason for the blaze that broke out in the ceiling of the immigration counter. The cause for the fire was being ascertained under the supervision of the airport manager, while the cooling process had been started.
