Fire in Zardad Market in Mandvi, Kabul; Millions of Afghanis Damaged to Traders

Kabul Times News | Report: Tabassum Aslamyar

The Taliban Ministry of Interior Affairs has announced that a fire in one of the commercial markets in Mandvi, Kabul has been controlled after several hours of efforts by firefighting forces.

According to the ministry, the fire broke out in Zardad Market located in the Mandvi area of ​​Kabul and its initial cause was stated to be an “electrical fault”. Taliban officials say that the incident caused about eight million Afghanis in financial damage to traders and shop owners.

The Taliban Ministry of Interior has also claimed that the timely intervention of firefighting forces and control of the fire prevented the spread of the fire and the destruction of property worth about 480 million Afghanis.

There have been no reports of casualties from the incident, but images and videos from the scene show significant smoke and damage to parts of the market.

The fire comes at a time when Kabul’s markets and commercial centers have witnessed similar incidents in recent years. A number of traders and businessmen have previously expressed concern about the lack of standard firefighting equipment, dilapidated electrical networks, and a lack of safety measures in Kabul’s old markets.

Experts also emphasize that strengthening safety infrastructure, modernizing the electricity grid, and establishing fire prevention systems can play an important role in reducing the damage caused by such events.