KARACHI: The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road has risen to 14, after rescue teams recovered eight more bodies during an ongoing search operation on Monday morning.
The blaze, which broke out late Saturday night at the commercial complex in Karachi, was finally extinguished after more than 24 hours on Sunday. Authorities said a search operation was launched amid fears that more people could be trapped inside. While an electrical short circuit is suspected, officials said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.
South DIG Syed Asad Raza said that rescue personnel recovered eight bodies since Sunday night from the gutted building. “The fire safety operation has been completed. Cooling has begun and debris removal is underway with support from KMC, TMC and Pakistan Navy teams,” he added.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that five bodies have so far been brought to Civil Hospital Karachi.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, told the media that reports of more than 70 missing persons were “extremely alarming,” calling the incident a “national tragedy.” He said information about a pregnant woman possibly trapped inside was particularly concerning, adding that while determining the cause of the fire was important, saving lives remained the top priority. Tessori also pledged support for traders and efforts to restore the market, vowing to stand by the affected people until their losses are compensated.
The Sindh government has set up helplines for missing persons and inquiries at 0313-5048048, 021-99206372, and 021-99205625.
Meanwhile, Karachi Traffic Police announced the closure of M.A. Jinnah Road from Tibet Centre to Garden Chowk due to ongoing rescue and recovery work, advising commuters to use alternate routes via Saddar, Empress Market, Burns Road and surrounding areas.
Traders and residents criticised what they described as a delayed firefighting response and inadequate resources, claiming that a timely and full-scale operation—especially given the proximity of the Saddar Fire Station—could have limited the damage and saved lives. They also cited water shortages and traffic congestion on M.A. Jinnah Road as major obstacles during the operation.
Story by Imtiaz Ali
