Gul Plaza Fire Investigation Report Reveals How Deadly Blaze Started

As families continue to mourn the victims of the Gul Plaza fire, a new investigation report has revealed key details about how the deadly incident began and spread across the shopping centre.

According to officials involved in the probe, the fire started inside an artificial flower shop where children were present at the time of the incident. Investigators believe the fire may have been triggered while children were playing with matches or a lighter inside the shop.

Fire Spread Rapidly Across the Building

The report states that the fire first ignited in the stored goods inside the flower shop. It later spread to nearby electrical wiring, which caused the flames to move quickly through the building.

Gul Plaza housed more than 1,200 shops, most of which were open when the fire broke out. As smoke filled the building, people rushed towards the exits. However, several gates were closed, leading to a stampede inside the plaza.

Officials also revealed that a grill installed on the rooftop blocked escape routes, making evacuation even more difficult.

CCTV System Destroyed in Fire

The investigation report confirmed that the CCTV system of the building was completely destroyed due to the intensity of the fire. This has made it harder for authorities to track exact movements inside the plaza during the early moments of the incident.

However, statements from eyewitnesses and survivors have been recorded to help complete the investigation.

Timeline of the Gul Plaza Fire

Based on available CCTV footage from nearby buildings, authorities prepared a timeline of the incident:

• 10:07 pm: Fire breaks out at the back side of Gul Plaza

• 10:12 pm: Ambulances arrive at the scene

• 10:18 pm: Flames become visible on MA Jinnah Road side

• Within 11 minutes, the fire spreads from back to front

After nearly 39 hours of continuous firefighting, the blaze was finally brought under control.

Death Toll and DNA Identification

So far, at least 60 people have been confirmed dead, while over 80 people are still missing. Many bodies were burned beyond recognition.

Authorities are now using DNA sampling to identify the remains recovered from the debris. Families of missing persons have been asked to submit samples at Civil Hospital Karachi.

The Gul Plaza fire is being described as one of the worst fire tragedies in Karachi in the last decade, raising serious questions about building safety and emergency preparedness in commercial centres.