KARACHI: The rescue and search operation at Gul Plaza entered its sixth day on Thursday, as emergency teams continued painstaking efforts to locate 88 people still missing following the deadly blaze.
A day earlier, the death toll rose to 60 after 30 severely charred bodies were recovered from a single crockery shop on the mezzanine floor of the shopping centre. The recovery was made after rescuers shifted operations from the first and second floors to the mezzanine level.
Shop No. 144, where the bodies were found, was identified with the help of a shopkeeper who had witnessed people rushing inside the shop during the initial moments of the fire. According to officials, the victims had taken refuge there after a stampede erupted inside the mall.
The Missing Persons Cell of the Deputy Commissioner South confirmed that 15 additional bodies have now been identified. The deceased include Mohammad Shehroz, Misbah, Maryam, Kashif, Aamir, Faraz, Farooq, Furqan, Mohammad Ali, Tanveer, Mohammad Rizwan, Churchill Masih, Sarfraz Noor, Mohammad Saad, and Mohammad Usman.
The Gul Plaza fire on MA Jinnah Road has emerged as one of the deadliest fire incidents in Karachi over the past decade.
Precautionary Power Cut, Traders Reject Gate Closure Claims
Speaking to the media, Gul Plaza Traders’ Association President Tanveer Pasta dismissed reports that most gates of the shopping centre were closed at the time of the incident.
He said all major entrances, including the emergency ramp and mosque gate, were open. Pasta acknowledged that electricity was cut off as a precautionary step, adding that people who escaped would not have survived had the power remained on.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 officer Muhammad Saleem said rescuers are creating access paths through the rubble to search multiple locations simultaneously.
Debris Removal Halted Over Safety Concerns
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said post-mortem examinations of 48 bodies have been completed. He added that debris removal using heavy machinery has been temporarily stopped due to the risk of further collapse, and rescuers have re-entered safer portions of the building to continue the search.
He noted that collapsed sections cannot be searched until debris is cleared. DNA samples of bodies and relatives are being collected, though identification remains difficult in cases involving fragmented remains.
Khoso also confirmed that investigations are underway to determine whether any gates were closed and that notices are being issued to buildings lacking proper fire safety measures.
Timeline of the Fire
According to CCTV footage and official timelines:
- The fire broke out at 10:07pm on Saturday, January 17, at the rear of the plaza
- Ambulances arrived by 10:12pm
- Flames reached the front side on MA Jinnah Road at 10:18pm
- The fire spread from back to front in 11 minutes
- After 39 hours of continuous firefighting, the blaze was brought under control
So far, 60 bodies have been recovered from the ruins.
A Pattern of Deadly Fires
Burnt bodies and human remains have left families of missing persons in profound grief. The Gul Plaza tragedy is part of a disturbing pattern, as Karachi has witnessed numerous major fires in malls, markets, and factories over the past decade.
Official records show that around 2,400 fire incidents were reported in Karachi in 2025 alone, ranging from minor blazes to large-scale infernos, resulting in heavy loss of life and property.