Death Toll Rises to 61 as Search Operation Continues at Fire-Ravaged Gul Plaza in Karachi

Photo File (X/@NahdT5)

The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi has risen to 61 as rescue teams continue a painstaking search operation inside the burned building. Authorities confirmed that 30 more bodies were recovered from the mezzanine floor, significantly increasing the scale of the tragedy.

According to DIG South Asad Raza, shopkeepers had informed officials about the presence of people trapped on the mezzanine floor. All 30 bodies were found inside a crockery shop, where victims had reportedly locked themselves in an attempt to escape the fire. Their last known mobile phone locations were also traced to the same spot.

DIG South stated that debris removal has been temporarily halted to prioritize the recovery of bodies. “Our focus is to retrieve the deceased first before continuing clearance work,” he said.

The owner of the crockery shop, Salman, revealed that 14 human remains were personally recovered by the shop’s owners. He added that at the time of the incident, his cousins, employees, women, and several other individuals were present inside the shop.

Police Surgeon Dr. Sumaiya confirmed that remains from at least two shops have been brought to Civil Hospital Karachi. She explained that the condition of the remains is extremely deteriorated, consisting mostly of burnt bones and broken teeth, making identification and DNA sampling nearly impossible. The lack of DNA evidence has created serious challenges in handing over remains to families.

Authorities said that three more bodies have been identified, while 17 bodies remain unidentifiable due to severe damage.

Addressing speculation, the Additional IG Karachi clarified that no evidence of sabotage has been found so far and termed reports about a missing dumper as false. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Commissioner stated that Rimpa Plaza, located nearby, sustained some damage but is not structurally dangerous. However, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared parts of Rimpa Plaza unsafe and issued notices restricting the use of hazardous sections.

The investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy continues, with SBCA submitting seven files to the inquiry committee led by the Karachi Commissioner. These include records of pending court cases and illegal construction violations linked to Gul Plaza.