Gul Plaza inferno: 26 dead, 81 missing

Cooling process under way after 36-hour fire Investigations launched into structural violations

KARACHI:

The death toll from the catastrophic fire that engulfed Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi rose to 26 on Monday, as rescue teams continued painstaking debris removal amid fears that dozens more may still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Firefighters declared the blaze extinguished after 36 hours, with cooling operations ongoing alongside a frantic search for any survivors. Rescuers said that nearly 60% of the shopping plaza has collapsed, while the remaining structure remains too fragile to navigate safely.

Officials at the Deputy Commissioner (DC) South help desk confirmed that 81 missing persons have so far been reported by anxious families, while traders fear the number could be as high as 100.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that 20 additional bodies were recovered after cooling operations allowed limited access to the devastated building. Smoke continued rising from the upper floors, where pockets of fire intermittently reignited, delaying entry to the most heavily affected areas.

The blaze, which erupted around 10:15pm on Saturday, raged for nearly 36 hours before firefighters brought it under control. Authorities said the building—housing approximately 1,200 shops across basement, ground floor, and three upper levels—suffered extensive structural damage.

Search operations initially focused on the first and second floors before moving to the basement and ground floor, still buried under massive debris. Rescue teams are operating with extreme caution due to the high risk of further collapse.

"Three simultaneous search operations are underway at five marked locations," Rescue 1122 Chief Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh said. "The structure is severely compromised. Operations are phased and technically restricted to ensure safety."

He added that body parts recovered from multiple sections require forensic verification before final fatality figures can be confirmed. Fire brigade officials estimate that clearing the debris could take 15 to 17 days.

Hospitals treated around 30 injured people suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. Two firefighters, Irshad and Bilal, remain under treatment at PNS Shifa, while others were discharged after first aid. one firefighter died when a portion of the building collapsed on Sunday.

Unidentified bodies have been shifted to Edhi morgues, and the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) has established an emergency identification camp outside the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre to assist families.

Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi told the media that 26 bodies have been recovered, of which 13 have been identified. "DNA testing will be conducted on some of the bodies," he said, adding that reports for more than 75 missing persons have been registered.

Inquiry and compensation

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the site and formed a high-level inquiry committee led by the Karachi commissioner, assisted by the additional inspector general of police, with forensic support from Lahore.

Addressing a press conference alongside leading business figures, Shah emphasised that the probe aims to identify systemic failures rather than scapegoats, while warning that strict action will follow if negligence or sabotage is established. A judicial inquiry remains an option.

Shah announced Rs10 million in compensation for each deceased victim's family and promised full rehabilitation for affected traders, along with the reconstruction of the plaza. A traders' committee will assess losses, and the government may provide temporary business spaces.

The chief minister ordered immediate enforcement of the Fire Safety Audit 2024, covering 145 commercial buildings, and announced the mandatory installation of fire alarms in shops. He also fast-tracked legislation, including the Sindh Community Safety Act 2026.

In an earlier emergency meeting, Shah stressed stricter regulation of commercial buildings. He revealed that Gul Plaza had approval for 1,017 shops, and investigators will determine whether additional constructions affected safety compliance.

Commissioner Naqvi said that the inquiry committee has begun collecting evidence. "Our focus is on the rescue operation. Whatever emerges from the inquiry will be shared with the public. We are not holding anyone responsible at this stage."

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has demanded a judicial inquiry, questioning whether Gul Plaza had functional fire exits, adequate safety enforcement, and whether firefighters had proper protective equipment.

Videos of the tragedy

Newly emerged video footage, time-stamped 10:22pm on Saturday, showed traffic moving normally on MA Jinnah Road as thick smoke began billowing from the shopping mall, suggesting the fire spread rapidly before a full emergency response could be mounted.

Other clips captured chaos inside and outside the plaza, with terrified shopkeepers, employees, and customers running through smoke-filled corridors and screaming for doors to be broken open.

Several victims are seen clutching shopping bags, indicating that the fire erupted while the mall was still crowded. Witnesses reported that many were overcome by smoke before flames reached them.

Illegal construction

As rescue teams continued pulling bodies from the smouldering ruins, revelations of large-scale building violations also emerged, strengthening suspicions that blocked emergency exits hindered evacuation.

Documents from the Sindh Building Control Authority show that the plaza was originally approved for 1,021 shops, but nearly 1,200 were built. Of these, 179 shops were illegally constructed in corridors, parking areas, and designated emergency exit routes.

Authorities fear these encroachments turned escape passages into deadly choke points, trapping dozens as smoke and flames spread. Traders also blamed unchecked illegal construction for turning a thriving marketplace into a death trap.

Heavy machinery is being used to clear collapsed sections, while floodlights have been installed to allow round-the-clock recovery operations. Following the tragedy, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed that all municipal fire services be unified under Rescue 1122.