The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah Road rose to 14 on Monday after eight more bodies were recovered from the smouldering debris, as firefighters resumed operations following the re-emergence of flames inside the damaged structure.
The blaze, which erupted late Saturday night at the multi-storey shopping mall, was brought under control after more than 24 hours on Sunday. However, authorities launched an extensive search and recovery operation amid fears that more victims could still be trapped inside. Officials initially suspected an electrical short circuit but said the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khosa said the cooling process was still under way, while Fire Officer Zafar Khan noted that around 90 per cent of the blaze had been controlled, although flames were still present in parts of the inner market. “Two outer sections of the building have collapsed, and the internal structure is also damaged. Even after the fire is extinguished, the search operation will be conducted with extreme caution,” he said.
Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalal said firefighting efforts had resumed from the Rimpa Plaza side, as embers and flames continued to flare up from the debris. South DIG Syed Asad Raza confirmed that eight bodies were recovered since Sunday night. “Fire safety operation has been completed. The cooling process has now started, with debris removal being carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Town Municipal Corporation and Pakistan Navy personnel,” he said.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said five bodies had so far been shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi. Authorities fear the toll could rise further, as several people remain unaccounted for.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, said reports of more than 70 missing persons were “extremely alarming” and described the incident as having “turned into a national tragedy.” He said information about a pregnant woman possibly trapped inside the building was deeply concerning. While stressing that determining the cause of the fire was essential, he said the immediate priority was saving lives and supporting the affected families. Tessori added that he was in contact with major builders in the city regarding restoration of the market and vowed to stand with the affected traders until their losses were compensated.
The Sindh government has set up helplines for missing persons and public queries at 0313-5048048, 021-99206372 and 021-99205625.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Traffic Police closed the section of M.A. Jinnah Road from Tibet Centre to Garden Chowk due to ongoing rescue and recovery operations. Commuters were advised to use alternate routes via Capri, Saddar Dawakhana, Empress Market, Regal, Burns Road and Fresco Chowk, while traffic heading towards the Quaid’s Mausoleum was diverted through Frere Chowk.
Condolences poured in from abroad, with the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Pakistan saying she was “heartbroken” by the tragedy and expressing solidarity with the affected community. The German Consulate in Karachi also described the incident as deeply saddening, offering prayers for the victims and their families.
Traders and residents, however, criticised what they described as a delayed response by civic authorities. Several shopkeepers said the blaze could have been contained earlier had firefighting resources arrived in full force. Residents complained of water shortages during the initial hours and questioned the absence of senior city and provincial officials at the height of the crisis, also pointing to the congested condition of M.A. Jinnah Road, which made it difficult to position water bowsers effectively.
As recovery operations continue, families of the missing wait anxiously for information, while authorities face mounting pressure to establish accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future. — LORD