A devastating fire broke out at a madrassa in Mian Kaly, Alpuri, on Friday morning, gutting three nearby shops and the two-story madrassa building. Locals reported that the fire started in one of the madrassa’s rooms and quickly spread due to strong winds and the largely wooden construction of the buildings.
Despite efforts by locals to extinguish the blaze, the shops and madrassa were reduced to ashes, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 3-3.5 million. The affected shopkeepers and madrassa teachers are now seeking financial aid from the district administration to rebuild.
In a separate incident, an 8-year-old child, Maaz, died at the district headquarters hospital in Alpuri on Thursday night after consuming poisonous substances from a local shop. This incident, combined with another recent case in Sangrai where two cousins died after ingesting poisonous substances, has prompted Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Fawad Khan to take action.
DC Shangla has issued a notification banning the sale of snacks and chips that are causing health problems among children. The district administration has also initiated an investigation into both incidents and has called for a report within two days.
Also read; Houses set on fire, animals perished in Chakesar
