Gul Plaza Turns Graveyard as Rescue Teams Search for the Lost

On Monday, firefighters and rescue workers continued the grim task of removing bodies from the ruins of Karachi’s expansive Gul Plaza. A massive fire has claimed the lives of at least 26 people and left approximately 83 others unaccounted for. South District Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso confirmed that two more bodies were recovered on Monday night, bringing the total number of missing persons to 83. Rescuers have successfully cleared the ground and first floors and are currently attempting to access the second and third stories of the multi-story complex.

The Scale of the Disaster

The fire, which is the largest the city has seen in over a decade, broke out late Saturday night in the historic center of Karachi. The complex is larger than a football field and contains 1,200 individual stores. The blaze burned for more than twenty-four hours before it was largely contained. By Monday afternoon, the majority of the building had collapsed under the intense heat. Cranes were brought in to demolish the remaining sections of the structure due to immediate concerns that they would fall onto the surrounding streets.

Grief and Frustration Among Families

Hundreds of people gathered around the site as rescue crews searched for survivors and shop owners watched their life’s work reduced to ashes. Qasir Khan, whose wife, daughter-in-law, and her mother remain missing, accused the rescue operation of being too slow, suggesting that more lives could have been saved with a faster response. Similarly, shop owner Yasmeen Bano lamented the loss of twenty years of hard work. The Rescue 1122 spokeswoman confirmed that teams finally entered the completely destroyed interior after more than 50 hours of continuous activity.

Vehicle Recovery from the Rooftop

In a remarkable development during the cleanup, rescue personnel used cranes to remove vehicles from the rooftop of Gul Plaza. Officials confirmed that at least seven cars have been recovered so far, with two returned to their owners in good condition and driven away. A trader named Aamir expressed surprise that his cars were safe, though he noted that two of his employees are still among the missing. This recovery process continues as teams clear debris from the top of the structure.

The Challenges of DNA Identification

The intensity of the fire has made identification nearly impossible through traditional means, and rescue personnel are transporting remains in sacks for forensic analysis. A police surgeon reported that DNA samples have been taken from 20 sets of remains at Civil Hospital, while 48 families have provided their own samples for comparison. DIG South Asad Raza affirmed that the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory is handling the process, and cross-matching is expected to continue over the next three days.

Official Investigation and Accountability

The Karachi Commissioner, Syed Hassan Naqvi, announced that an investigation committee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday to examine the causes and circumstances of the tragedy. The committee will review all gathered data and determine if criminal negligence played a role. Commissioner Naqvi noted that the presence of extremely combustible items within the stores increased the ferocity of the fire, while firefighters pointed out that a total lack of ventilation caused dense smoke to fill the building and trap those inside.

Government Response and Future Inquiries

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah acknowledged systemic flaws in the emergency response and promised that an inquiry would lead to accountability. Although provincial police chief Javed Alam Odho initially suggested an electrical malfunction caused the blaze, the chief minister stated that the official cause remains under investigation. This incident marks one of the most significant fire disasters in Karachi since the 2012 industrial fire, prompting renewed calls for stricter building safety codes and better fire department resources.

Earlier today, after around 33 hours of hard work, the rescuers were able to put out the fire, however the number of victims from the Gul Plaza fire is still rising at 26.

According to the Sindh government’s support center, three more names were added to the list, bringing the total number of those missing in the incident to 70.

The large, multi-story Gul Plaza shopping center in the city’s business sector caught fire late on Saturday. It raged for over 24 hours, impeding rescue attempts in the crowded area.

Crews began cooling and cleaning debris after fighting the fire for more than twenty-four hours, but worries that additional casualties might still be trapped within rose.

The facility, which has more than 1,200 stores, lacks ventilation, according to firefighters, which resulted in dense smoke filling the mall and hindered attempts to get to those who were trapped inside.

Amidst protests over purported inadequacies in the government’ response, portions of the building fell due to the fire, and rescuers entered the structure by smashing windows and smashing walls with hammers.

Bodies Recovered, Some Unidentifiable

Asad Raza, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for South Africa, verified 15 deaths. According to the rescuers, five of the bodies found at the scene cannot be identified.

Flames were seen rising from the structure when the fire started on Saturday, and firemen worked into the night to put it out.

The structure was surrounded by hundreds of people, including upset store owners whose establishments had been reduced to rubble.Shopkeeper Yasmeen Bano stated, “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone.”

“When we arrived, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames,” Rescue 1122 spokeswoman Hassanul Haseeb Khan told Reuters.

ashif, Faraz, Muhammad Aamir, Furqan, and two unidentified people are among the dead, according to rescue officials.

Haseeb, Waseem, Daniyal, Sadiq, Hamza, Rahim, Fahad, Jawad, Ayan, Abdullah, Usman, Zain, and Nadir were among those hurt.

According to fire department authorities, the fire rekindled in several areas of the structure after midday today, causing a brief halt to the rescue effort.

They stated that after the fire is put out, rescue efforts would restart.

During a visit to the scene, Karachi further Inspector General of Police (AIG) Azad Khan stated that further bodies might be found inside the structure.

“No evidence of sabotage found according to initial investigation,” he stated, noting that all injured people had been released from hospitals.

When Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab showed up at the scene late on Sunday night, over twenty-three hours after the fire started, people there protested.

The families of 59 people have reportedly called the police on behalf of their loved ones.

Rescue Work Continues Amid Dangerous Conditions

Fire Officer Zafar Khan said the condition of the building is extremely unsafe. He explained that rescue teams can only stay inside for short periods.

“We inspect relatively safer areas and come out immediately,” he said, adding that teams are searching for possible survivors.

To access blocked sections, rescuers are cutting windows and breaking walls with hammers. The cooling process is ongoing, and officials expect rescue work to speed up as access improves.

How the Fire Started

According to a report submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the fire broke out between 9:45pm and 10:15pm on Saturday.

Rescue services received an emergency call at 10:38pm, reporting a fire at the ground-floor shops of the multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre. Unverified reports suggest the fire may have started at a flower shop.

Flames quickly spread to the upper floors. Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night.

Eyewitness Accounts and Business Losses

Hundreds of people gathered outside the building as the fire raged. Many shopkeepers watched helplessly as their businesses were destroyed.

“We are left with nothing. Twenty years of hard work is gone,” said shop owner Yasmeen Bano.

Fire Spread Rapidly, Say Rescuers

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan told Reuters that the fire had already engulfed most of the building when teams arrived.

“The flames from the ground floor had spread rapidly to the upper floors,” he said.

Missing Persons and Ongoing Investigation

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site nearly 23 hours after the fire began, which sparked protests from affected families.

He said around 65 people were initially reported missing. Police later confirmed that families of 59 individuals contacted authorities.

Police traced 26 mobile phone numbers to the incident site. Efforts are ongoing to locate others.

Firefighting Details

The Chief Fire Officer said foam was used from the first day to control the blaze. He confirmed that around 90% of the fire has been extinguished, but goods stored inside the building are still burning.

Authorities have promised a full investigation into the cause of the fire and possible safety lapses.

This is a developing story, and more details are expected.