Table of Contents
- Overview of the Gul Plaza Fire Tragedy
- Death Toll and Missing Persons Update
- DNA Identification and Forensic Process
- Rescue Operations and Structural Challenges
- Governor’s Proposal for Trader Relocation
- Fire Safety Audit Revelations
- Political Reactions and Accountability Demands
Full News Article
Karachi Gul Plaza fire has emerged as one of the deadliest commercial building disasters in the city’s recent history, with the confirmed death toll rising to 28 and more than 80 people still reported missing, as rescue teams continue painstaking search operations inside the charred structure.
The massive blaze erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a sprawling multi-storey shopping complex located in Karachi’s historic business district. Firefighters battled the inferno for over 24 hours before bringing it under control, marking the city’s most severe fire incident in more than a decade.
Death Toll and Missing Persons
According to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, 28 bodies have so far been shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. She confirmed that biological samples from around 50 families have been collected to facilitate DNA profiling and identification of victims.
Authorities reported that 81 individuals were initially listed as missing. However, after verification, 74 cases were confirmed, with some names appearing repeatedly due to reporting overlaps. Identification has been completed for eight victims, while samples from 14 bodies are currently undergoing forensic examination.
DNA Identification Efforts Underway
Family DNA samples have been transferred to the Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory, while body samples are being analyzed at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi. Officials say the process is being conducted with urgency to provide closure to grieving families.
Rescue Operations Face Structural Barriers
Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso stated that rescue teams have cleared the basement, ground floor, and first floor of the plaza. Efforts are ongoing to access upper floors, with emergency crews cutting through metal grills and unstable debris to reach trapped areas.
Gul Plaza spans an area larger than a football field and houses approximately 1,200 shops, significantly complicating search operations due to its dense internal layout and compromised structural integrity.
Governor Proposes Trader Relocation
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, during a meeting with business representatives, proposed relocating affected traders to a nearby parking plaza currently lying vacant. Emphasizing accountability, he stated that unsafe commercial constructions must be halted to prevent future tragedies.
Fire Safety Audit Raises Alarm
The disaster has reignited scrutiny over Karachi’s fire safety enforcement. Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah revealed that a fire safety audit conducted in January 2024 identified 266 buildings as non-compliant. The report was submitted to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah just a day before the Gul Plaza fire.
The chief minister reportedly expressed strong displeasure over the two-year delay and has directed the installation of fire alarms in all buildings across the province.
Political Fallout and Accountability Calls
During a National Assembly session, PPP leader Shehla Raza disclosed that 24 out of 26 exit gates at Gul Plaza were closed at the time of the fire, severely hampering evacuation. She acknowledged administrative failures and highlighted unauthorized structural modifications over decades.
MQM-P MNA Farooq Sattar demanded the incident be declared a national tragedy, calling for an independent inquiry and revival of the Civil Defence Department, stressing Karachi’s critical role in the national economy.
