CHARIKAR (PAN): A huge fire in the Siah Gird district bazaar in central Parwan province has caused losses worth more than 30 million afghanis, an official said on Tuesday.
District Mayor Ahmad Khitab Babakarkhel told Pajhwok Afghan News the blaze erupted following a gas cylinder explosion in the crowded bazaar at 9am on Monday.
The explosion set off fire at a nearby fuel shop, he said, adding the flames engulfed almost all shops within minutes. There is no fire service in the district.
Babakarkhel said the three-hour inferno left eight people injured, burning scores of shops of different items.
He said three of the injured were discharged from the main district hospital after being administered first medical aid, while five others remained under treatment
A delegation of investigators from Charikar found that 51 shops, a bus and 28 motorbikes were torched, according to the mayor, who said the team had estimated the losses at 31 million afghanis.
On the other hand, one affected shopkeeper, Najibullah, said at least 100 shops had been gutted completely and 150 others partially damaged by the fire. He demanded compensation for the shopkeepers.
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