Six Dead, Up to 60 Missing as Fire Rips Through Karachi’s Gul Plaza

KARACHI: At least six people were killed, 22 injured and dozens remained missing after a massive fire engulfed Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping complex in Karachi’s Saddar area, authorities said on Sunday. Firefighting and rescue operations continued for over 20 hours amid fears that several people were still trapped inside the building.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the site on Sunday evening to review rescue efforts. Expressing grief over the loss of lives and damage to property, he said that between 58 and 60 people were still unaccounted for and assured that the provincial government would compensate affected families and traders in a transparent manner.

The blaze reportedly erupted late Saturday night between 9:45pm and 10:15pm in a shop selling artificial flowers on the ground floor and quickly spread to the upper floors. Fire officials said the lack of ventilation, sealed windows and absence of emergency exits caused dense smoke to fill the building, severely hampering rescue efforts.

The third-degree fire gutted large portions of the plaza, which houses around 1,200 shops, and led to partial collapses of both the rear and front sections of the structure. Officials said the building had become too unstable for internal rescue operations until the fire was fully extinguished.

Rescue officials confirmed that among the deceased was firefighter Furqan from the Nazimabad Fire Office, who lost his life while battling the flames. The other victims were identified as Kashif, Faraz, Muhammad Aamir and one unidentified individual. All injured were shifted to the Burns Ward of Civil Hospital Karachi.

More than 150 firefighters, 22 fire brigade vehicles, 10 water bowsers, four snorkels and 33 ambulances took part in the operation. Pakistan Navy firefighters, Rescue 1122, Sindh Rangers and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation teams also assisted civil authorities.

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Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun said the building had no firefighting system or emergency access routes, calling the incident unprecedented in his 37-year career. He said a short circuit or electrical fault could not be ruled out, but the exact cause would be determined after cooling and investigation.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said police had received reports of at least 38 missing persons, while District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said families of 16 missing individuals had so far contacted authorities.

The Sindh government established helplines to assist families searching for missing persons and announced a formal inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister Shah ordered immediate fire safety audits of commercial buildings across Karachi and directed strict enforcement of fire safety laws.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

Traders’ associations strongly criticised the lack of fire safety measures, calling the incident a result of official negligence. They claimed losses worth billions of rupees and demanded accountability for those responsible for issuing fire fitness certificates without proper compliance.

Rescue officials said firefighting would continue until the blaze was fully extinguished, after which a detailed search operation would be launched to trace any remaining victims.