KARACHI: The tragic fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza has claimed 28 lives so far, with rescue operations ongoing and 81 individuals still unaccounted for. Authorities continue their efforts to recover victims from the smoldering structure.
According to Dr. Summaiya Syed, Police Surgeon, 28 bodies have been transported to Civil Hospital, and DNA samples from 50 families have been collected for identification purposes. The fire, which is the most severe in Karachi in over ten years, erupted late Saturday in a multi-storey complex housing approximately 1,200 shops across an area larger than a football field.
The blaze persisted for over 24 hours before being brought under control. The police surgeon noted that the number of missing persons stands at 81, with some names overlapping. So far, 74 of these individuals have been confirmed missing, and DNA testing is underway at the University of Karachi’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, following samples sent to the Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory.
Samples from eight bodies have been successfully identified, with efforts continuing to match the remaining victims. The identification process involves DNA analysis of bodies recovered from the site.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has suggested relocating the affected traders to the city’s vacant parking plaza. During a meeting with the business community, he stated, “The parking lot is empty and can provide temporary shelter for the traders displaced by the fire.” He emphasized the need to learn from this tragedy and called for a halt to the construction of any unsafe plazas in Karachi.
Meanwhile, Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso reported that rescue teams have cleared the ground and lower floors of the building. Efforts are ongoing to access the upper levels, including the second and third floors, by cutting through grills and barriers. In the National Assembly, PPP’s Shehla Raza highlighted issues related to the incident, criticizing the absence of senior provincial officials at the scene and stressing the importance of rescue efforts. She also revealed that 24 out of the 26 gates of Gul Plaza were found to be closed during the incident, hindering rescue operations.
Historically, Gul Plaza was established in 1980 with 180 shops in its basement and 405 on the ground floor. In 1998, authorities decided to expand the shopping area into the parking zones and corridors, which may have contributed to the complexity of rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar called for declaring the incident a national tragedy, criticizing the government’s priorities. He pointed out that Karachi contributes approximately 65% of the country’s revenue and urged the formation of an investigative committee and the activation of the Civil Defence Department to prevent future disasters.
