Karachi’s Gul Plaza Fire: 26 Dead, Dozens Missing

ISLAMABAD: A massive fire that engulfed Gul Plaza in Karachi has been largely brought under control, with the death toll rising to 26 and 71 people still reported missing. The blaze, which started Saturday night, took around 40 hours to mostly extinguish. Firefighters continued working cautiously, removing rubble and listening for signs of trapped victims while fearing the unstable multi-storey structure could collapse.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police confirmed that 26 bodies have been recovered, six of which have been identified, while the rest will require DNA testing. Authorities are still verifying the identities of the 32 missing individuals last seen at the plaza.

Sindh CM Announces Rescue, Compensation Plans for Gul Plaza Fire

The surrounding area, including Rampa Plaza, has been secured, with only rescue personnel allowed inside. Early Monday morning, eight more bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 18, including a firefighter, a woman, and a child. Eighteen seriously injured individuals were transferred to hospitals.

Residents in the upper floors of Gul Plaza have started evacuating due to fears of structural collapse. Pakistan Army units, along with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), assisted rescue teams in clearing debris and accessing damaged areas. Heavy machinery and engineering teams were deployed to assess the building’s stability.

The operation involved 22 fire tenders, 15 water bowsers from the Pakistan Navy and Rescue 1122, and multiple ambulances. Officials reported that parts of the structure had collapsed during the fire, complicating rescue efforts. Investigations into the fire’s cause are ongoing, with police also exploring potential links to terrorism.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, and other local officials visited the site, highlighting the challenges faced by rescue teams and promising transparent compensation for affected families. Many shopkeepers, whose businesses were destroyed, blamed trade center unions for neglecting safety protocols.

The tragedy also affected firefighters and families. Adnan, the brother of firefighter Furqan who died in the operation, appealed for urgent financial aid for the family. Meanwhile, relatives of missing persons, including an 18-year-old boy, continue their desperate search at hospitals.

Gul Plaza, built in 1995 with originally three floors and space for 500 shops, had grown to over 1,200 shops by 2003 after adding three additional floors. Overcrowding and structural changes are believed to have worsened the impact of the fire.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed condolences and pledged full support, mobilizing resources for relief operations while praising the courage of firefighters like Farhan Shaukat, who lost his life in the blaze.