Rescue workers on Monday controlled a fire that broke out in a shopping mall situated at Lahore's Gulberg area that turned hundreds of shops into scrap, reported Aaj News.

The fire broke out late Sunday night on the second and third floor of the four-storey plaza where more than 400 shops of clothes, computers, mobile phones and others are located. As per initial estimates, traders have suffered losses in billions of rupees as 407 shops were turned into ashes.

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At least 25 vehicles of the fire brigade department and 60 personnel of the department took part in the rescue efforts to put out the fire.

It wasn't immediately clear what started the fire with authorities investigating whether it was arson or an accident.

However, shopkeepers accused the plaza owners of the incident, saying it did not happen accidentally, while a passerby informed the rescue workers of the incident instead of the mall's administration after 30 minutes when the fire broke out.

The building did not have equipment to control the fire, according to a 1122 Rescue spokesperson.