MULTAN - A massive blaze, which sparked in wee hours of Tuesday, engulfed at least 100 shops in local grain market, fire department sources said. The cause of fire is stated to be short-circuiting. Traders claimed that commodities worth millions were gutted by the fire. The flame was so intense that fire fighters from adjoining districts like Khanewal, Vehari and Muzaffargarh were called who, with the help of Rescue 1122 workers and local fire department, put out fire after hectic efforts of five hours. The fire started at about 3:00am and ended at 8:00am. The incident is believed to be the biggest fire of Multan's history. However, no life loss was reported. Entire business activities remained suspended in grain market and adjoining areas throughout the day due to the fire incident. The grain market traders announced three-day mourning on the tragic incident. The incident also caused suspension of edibles supply to different areas of South Punjab, arousing fears of scarcity of commodities as well as increase in their rates cities. Some of the traders, whose shops were under fire, could not control their emotions and fainted at the spot while some others burst into tears. They alleged that concerned Mepco office did not take any action to suspend the power supply to the fire-affected areas despite in time complaint by the traders as a result of which the blaze spread like jungle fire and dozens of other shops came under it within one hour. The entire district administration including City District Nazim Main Faisal Mukhtar, DCO Fazeel Asghar and police officials rushed to the spot after learning about the incidents and issued orders for necessary rescue operation. The city district nazim expressed deep grief over traders' loss due to fire and issued orders for launching an immediate probe for tracing the causes of the incident. He assured the traders that the city district government would make assessment of the loss caused by the fire and send request to the Punjab government to pay compensation to the affectees. The city police officer Saud Aziz put district police on red alert and directed the reserve police to remain stand-by with a view to averting any untoward situation. Additional SP Fayyaz Khan reached the spot and deployed Qutabpur, New Multan, Delhi Gate and Mumtazabad Police in and around grain market to avoid any chaotic looting situation. Traffic remained suspended between Chowk Shah Abbas and BCG Chowk on Vehari Road during the fire fighting operation. Police established its pickets on both chowks and disallowed traffic between them.