KARACHI: Twelve days after the devastating fire at Gul Plaza shopping center in Karachi, authorities reported on Wednesday that the incident was accidentally triggered by a child.
The fire, which broke out at 10:15 PM on the plaza’s ground floor, spread swiftly due to air-conditioning ducts and claimed 79 lives, most of them located on the mezzanine floor.
An investigative report prepared by a committee, including Karachi’s Commissioner and the Additional Inspector General of Police, outlines the fire’s origin, emergency responses, rescue operations, and accounts from witnesses.
The first fire truck reached the site at 10:37 PM, while the Deputy Commissioner for Karachi South arrived by 10:30 PM. Rescue 1122 teams joined the efforts at 10:53 PM.
The fire reportedly started in a flower shop on the ground floor, allegedly spread by the child who accidentally ignited it.
Ongoing identification efforts
Authorities have recovered 79 bodies to date, although only seven victims could be visually identified. At least 46 bodies remain unidentifiable and are undergoing DNA tests, while six individuals are still classified as missing.
So far, DNA analysis has helped identify 20 of the total 27 recovered bodies, including members of a single family from Delhi Colony. Authorities plan to hand over the bodies of two family members, Kausar Parveen and Ashraf, to relatives later today (Wednesday). Previously, four members of this family had been identified with DNA testing.
Joint investigation initiated
The Sindh Police have begun a collaborative investigation with Punjab’s Urban Search and Rescue Force, utilizing advanced technologies to gather evidence from critical areas of the charred building.
Officials from both teams convened at the office of Karachi South’s Deputy Commissioner to strategize further inquiries. The investigation aims to uncover how the fire spread rapidly throughout the building while pinpointing its precise source and cause.
Forensic specialists from Sindh Police, assisted by experts from Punjab, are analyzing structural and technological aspects of the premises to minimize risks and avoid similar incidents in the future.
