Gul Plaza Inferno: Investigation Finds Shop Owners Stopped Evacuations During Blaze

Karachi: Significant revelations have emerged from the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy. Investigators have reported that CCTV footage from the mezzanine, first, and second floors remains missing.

However, the inquiry committee has obtained 20 minutes of footage showing the onset of the blaze, and the CCTV data from the mezzanine floor has been officially incorporated into the case and inquiry.

According to the report, the fire broke out at 10:15 AM, yet shops remained open for at least half an hour afterward. The footage shows shopkeepers and customers still present as late as 11:00 AM.

The report further notes a critical failure in the emergency response: instead of immediately evacuating citizens, the fire brigade and rescue teams began spraying water as soon as they arrived. While most people managed to flee, 25 to 30 individuals remained inside the Dubai Crockery Shop. It is alleged that the shop’s owners prevented these people from leaving.

One shopkeeper who assisted in the rescue efforts stated that he guided approximately 150 customers to safety. He reportedly urged those inside the Dubai Crockery Shop to evacuate, but the owners stopped them, allegedly claiming that the fire would be extinguished before it reached them. Tragically, the remains of those same 30 people were later recovered from that shop.