Karachi's Gul Plaza fire: Death toll jumps to 61 after 30 bodies found in single shop
Pakistan
The death toll in Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire has surged to 61 after 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop, as authorities order a final search operation before demolishing the building.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi has risen sharply to 61 after 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop inside the building, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
DIG South Asad Raza said the bodies were found in a crockery shop located on the mezzanine floor. He explained that shopkeepers had earlier pointed out the presence of people on the mezzanine level, prompting a focused search of the area. All 30 victims were recovered from the same shop, leading authorities to temporarily halt debris removal so bodies could be retrieved first.
Officials said that following the outbreak of the fire, several people had locked themselves inside the shop in an attempt to escape the smoke and flames. The last known mobile phone locations of the victims also traced back to the same spot.
Gul Plaza to be demolised
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso announced that Rescue 1122 has been instructed to carry out a final search operation at Gul Plaza. He said the building will be demolished after the completion of the final rescue and recovery phase.
Speaking to Dunya News, the deputy commissioner said the responsibility for demolishing the structure will rest with the Sindh Building Control Authority. He added that SBCA had already declared the building dangerous and unfit for use in its assessment report. The remaining structure will be brought down once the final search is completed.
According to the police surgeon, 11 bodies have so far been identified. DNA samples have been collected from the recovered remains, while samples from 51 relatives have also been taken to assist with identification.
Meanwhile, the family of another missing individual has contacted the Missing Persons Desk. Relatives of 65 year old Jahangir Shah have formally registered his disappearance, taking the total number of missing persons to 86.
Search operations continue
Search operations at the fire affected plaza have continued across the ground floor, mezzanine floor and first floor, all of which have now been cleared. More than 40 percent of the building has collapsed, while the remaining structure is considered highly unstable and at risk of further collapse at any time.
Rescue teams have removed 32 vehicles from the rooftop of Gul Plaza, along with several large generators, to reduce structural pressure. Debris removal has been carried out using both heavy machinery and manual labour amid challenging conditions.
The deputy commissioner also confirmed that the adjacent Rampa Plaza has been temporarily sealed. Authorities have requested building plans and related documents from the Sindh Building Control Authority to assess potential risks to neighbouring structures.
