Karachi: In the fire at Gul Plaza, approximately 80 people have died and the number of missing persons has reached 88, according to the Missing Persons Cell of the South District.
Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khosa, stated that the fire at Gul Plaza cannot simply be attributed to a short circuit; a complete investigation will be conducted. About 80 people have died and 86 people are missing.
Javed Nabi Khosa told the media that rescue workers are being sent into the affected building, and machinery is being stopped so that rescue workers can enter safely. He added that the building’s condition is very dangerous and it could collapse at any moment. About 40% of the building has already collapsed, and the rest has been searched.
He said that the public should not rely on news from social media. As the investigations progress, updates will be provided. He emphasized that this is such a major fire that it cannot be dismissed as just a short circuit, and a thorough investigation will take place.
In the demolished part of Gul Plaza, cranes and welding equipment are being used to cut through the debris. Fire brigade officials are creating pathways in the debris with the help of cutters and welding to check for bodies, according to Fire Brigade Officer Zafar Ahmed Khan.
Search operations are also being conducted in the stable parts of the building. All floors, including the mezzanine, are being checked. The fire brigade cannot provide a definite timeline for the completion of the search operations.
They are also performing intermittent cooling operations to control the fire, said Fire Brigade Officer Zafar Ahmed Khan.
A fire late last night reignited in a section of Gul Plaza, prompting renewed investigation by authorities as new details emerged about the incident through CCTV footage and forensic efforts.
According to sources, the fire broke out in a pile of debris inside Gul Plaza. At the time of the incident, the building had 16 doors, most of which were closed. Only two doors were open, creating difficulties for people attempting to gain access and escape. Sources said that during the fire, individuals trapped inside tried to break one of the doors to get out.
As part of the investigation, the Bomb Disposal Squad collected samples from two different locations. Three samples were taken from an artificial flowers shop, while three others were collected from different areas of the plaza. Authorities also decided to conduct chemical analysis of the bodies to determine further details related to the tragedy.
Investigators have prepared a detailed timeline of the fire using CCTV footage obtained from cameras installed in and around the area. According to the reconstructed timeline, the fire started at 10:07 pm in the rear portion of Gul Plaza. Smoke began to appear at 10:08 pm, while flames became visible by 10:12 pm, at which point ambulances started arriving at the scene.
By 10:18 pm, the fire had spread to the M.A. Jinnah Road side of the plaza. Fire brigade vehicles also began reaching the area shortly thereafter. Sources said it took approximately 11 minutes for the fire to spread from the rear portion of the building to its front.
Authorities say investigations into the Gul Plaza incident are ongoing, and further findings are expected after completion of forensic and chemical analyses.
