KARACHI: Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has called for a judicial inquiry into the deadly Gul Plaza fire as the confirmed death toll climbed to 67, with 15 people still missing.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while briefing the provincial assembly, said that 88 individuals were initially reported missing after the blaze. One person later returned home safely, while five names were found to be duplicated, bringing the actual number of missing persons to 82.
“Out of these, 67 bodies have been recovered so far, while 15 people are still unaccounted for,” the chief minister said.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Governor Tessori announced that he would write to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court, demanding a judicial probe into the tragedy.
“Those responsible must be identified and punished without delay,” he said, stressing that the Sindh government could not escape responsibility for the incident.
The governor criticised the handling of the emergency response, questioning the absence of responsible officials at the site during critical moments. He also pointed to reports that water tankers were stuck in traffic near Guru Mandir during firefighting efforts.
“People pay taxes and are then forced to endure mismanagement. Such tragedies will continue unless those responsible are held accountable,” Tessori said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso confirmed that 67 bodies had been recovered and said the search and rescue operation had entered its final phase and was expected to conclude on Friday.
Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed said post-mortem examinations of all 67 bodies had been completed, with 16 victims identified so far. She said six bodies were identified at the time of recovery, eight through DNA testing, one via a national identity card, and another through a locket found on the victim.
Identification of the remaining bodies is ongoing using forensic and DNA analysis.
Senior Fire Officer Zafar Khan said a fresh fire erupted in the building’s basement during the operation but was quickly brought under control. He added that a diesel tank on the roof had not been removed, and the blaze flared up during efforts to dismantle it.
According to Khan, the building’s structure has been severely weakened, and rescuers are now recovering bones rather than intact bodies from the debris.
Probe rules out short circuit
Investigators probing the incident have ruled out a short circuit as the cause of the fire, according to preliminary findings.
Sources said the blaze originated inside a shop selling artificial flowers, where children were reportedly present and may have been playing at the time. Investigators believe the fire may have started when children possibly used matches or a lighter, igniting stored materials before spreading to the wiring.
As the fire intensified, people rushed toward exit points, but panic ensued when several doors were found locked. Investigators also noted that a grill installed along the rooftop exit route obstructed evacuation efforts.
The building’s CCTV system was completely damaged in the fire, preventing footage review. Statements from eyewitnesses and affected individuals have been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
Families of the victims have criticised the slow pace of recovery operations, with more than 50 families submitting DNA samples in hopes of identifying their missing loved ones.