Karachi: The death toll from the devastating Gul Plaza fire in Karachi has climbed to 61 after rescuers recovered 30 additional bodies during an ongoing search operation.
According to DIG South Asad Raza, shopkeepers had earlier indicated the presence of people on the mezzanine floor, where all 30 bodies were found inside a crockery shop. He said debris removal has been halted, with priority now given to retrieving bodies.
Rescue officials stated that after the fire broke out, several individuals locked themselves inside shops to escape the flames. The victims’ last mobile phone locations were also traced to the same area.
Rescue 1122 confirmed that human remains were recovered from a shop on the ground floor and shifted to Civil Hospital for examination. Police surgeons warned that further fatalities cannot be ruled out as debris clearing continues.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over the rising death toll and directed authorities to stop debris removal and immediately shift bodies to hospitals, ensuring identification and full support for bereaved families.
Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed said DNA identification remains challenging due to extreme fire damage, but the Sindh Forensic DNA Lab is operating round the clock.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said search operations are focused on the collapsed portion of the building, adding that 11 bodies have been identified so far, while 85 people remain missing.