Death toll in Gul Plaza fire rises to 30 as rescue enters fourth day

The death toll from the massive fire at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road has risen to 30 on Wednesday, confirmed Dr Summaiya Syed, Police Surgeon Karachi. More than 80 people remain missing as rescue teams continue searching the rubble under hazardous conditions.

Dr Syed added that examinations of additional remains recovered from the site are ongoing, and there is a possibility that the death toll could rise further.

Rescue teams have also begun search operations on the second floor, third floor, and in the basement of the building.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) remained present around Gul Plaza for the second consecutive day.

According to the person in charge of the Bomb Disposal Squad, no sampling has been carried out so far. Ghulam Mustafa Araeen said the team is monitoring the situation while remaining present around the debris. He added that no institution has so far expressed suspicion of sabotage; however, the reasons behind the rapid spread of the fire will be reviewed.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has termed certain media reports regarding Gul Plaza as completely baseless and contrary to facts, in which it was claimed that records of the building were not available with the authority.

Read: Gul Plaza fire toll rises to 28 as DNA testing begins to identify victims

According to an SBCA spokesperson, the authority possesses all approved records related to Gul Plaza, including maps, complex plans, and construction details, which are preserved and available. The Gul Plaza building was constructed in the 1980s, while a revised plan was approved in 1998. Later, under the Regularisation Amendment Ordinance 2001, the building was formally regularised in 2003 in accordance with rules and regulations, and the owner obtained a completion certificate on April 14, 2003.

According to the revised No Objection Certificate for sale and advertisement (KBCA/DA/DCB-1/Revised/98-4/98/08 dated September 21, 1998), approval was granted for 175 shops in the basement, 355 on the ground floor, 188 on the first floor, 193 on the second floor, and 191 on the third floor.

Records show that Gul Plaza was permitted up to three floors, including the basement. The basement was initially designated for parking; however, parking was later shifted to the fourth floor and the roof by the management. Under the original approved plan, a total of 1,102 shops were permitted in the plaza, and the building had six staircases and 16 exit routes leading to the ground floor.

As per SBCA records, the regularisation plan was approved by the Sindh Building Control Authority under its authorised powers, with approval number KBCA/DCB(A)/Saddar Town/Reg.Comp/2003/67/28 dated April 14, 2003. Under this approval, the building was sanctioned for a basement, ground floor, and three upper floors (B+G+3). The total number of regularised shops is approximately 1,102.

Karachi Commissioner Hasan Naqvi, along with Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan, visited the site of the deadly incident.

During the visit, the officials inspected various parts of the affected building and recorded statements from different individuals. They also met affected persons, expressed concern over the tragedy, and took their accounts as part of the ongoing inquiry.

The Chief Secretary of Sindh has formed an inquiry committee, which has now begun its work. Commissioner Karachi, Hasan Naqvi, said the committee is working to complete the investigation promptly and present the facts to the public. “We are committed to a transparent and impartial inquiry,” he said, adding that statements from shopkeepers, rescue workers, and various agencies are being collected to ensure all facts come to light.

Read more: Death toll in Gul Plaza blaze rises to 26 as rescue work continues

Describing the case as complex with multiple aspects, Hasan Naqvi emphasised that no single individual or agency can be held solely responsible. “This is a tragic incident involving loss of life. Our plan for the government will aim to provide long-term solutions,” he said.

He confirmed that some deaths have already been verified, while 85 people are still reported missing. Some bodies were recovered in fragments. “The police are conducting DNA-based investigations to ensure transparency,” he added. The commissioner stressed that this is not a time for blame. “Those who lost their lives were aware of the risks. Our report will focus on facts without attributing individual blame”.

The inquiry committee will examine all angles, including potential sabotage. Hasan Naqvi noted that after a previous tragic incident at RJ Mall, fire safety audits were conducted, but gaps remain. “When incidents occur, awareness is raised, but preventive measures must continue,” he said.

He also highlighted that collective institutional responsibility is key, not individual accountability, and denied any pressure on the committee. “Those who knowingly take risks bear fundamental responsibility. A detailed inquiry will reveal the full picture,” he said.

Addressing the condition of the building involved, the commissioner stated that 31 bodies have been recovered, some in pieces, though this figure is not yet confirmed. While the Ramp Plaza suffered some damage, the building is not considered unsafe. Additional IG Karachi, Azad Khan, added that no evidence of sabotage has been found so far, and all leads are being examined carefully. Reports of missing dumper trucks are false, he said.

“Preventive measures must be forward-looking,” Hasan Naqvi said. “Building maps should be accurate, reconstruction may not be possible, and current fire safety measures do not meet international standards. All findings will be presented to the government”.

Also read: Gul Plaza fire causes Rs100 billion in losses, 1,000 shops destroyed

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said debris removal would not begin until all missing persons were accounted for. He said rescue and search work was continuing under the supervision of a technical team.

Officials said the number of missing people increased to 86 after the family of a 65-year-old man, Jahangir Shah, registered his details at the missing persons desk. Authorities said some entries were duplicated and were being verified.

Rescue officials said three more bodies were identified from previously unidentifiable remains through DNA testing conducted by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee. The identified victims included a 15-year-old girl and two adult men. Families have started receiving bodies from the morgue.

Rescue teams entered the building nearly 40 hours after the fire erupted late Saturday night but faced repeated disruptions as flames continued to reignite in different parts of the structure. Officials said lingering smoke and intense heat have complicated operations, especially in collapsed sections of the plaza.

Speaking to the media at the site, a DC South official said the intact portion of the building was also being searched and access routes were being created inside the structure. He said the entire plaza would be demolished only after search operations were completed.

Authorities have temporarily sealed the adjacent Rampa Plaza, pending a report from the Sindh Building Control Authority to assess possible risks.

Police are also investigating the disappearance of two dumpers linked to the incident, officials said.

Relatives of missing persons voiced concern over debris removal, saying they feared human remains could be taken away along with the rubble.