Gul Plaza rescue operation enters seventh day as death toll reaches 71

WEB DESK: The death toll of Gul Plaza fire has risen to 71, confirmed Police Surgeon Karachi Dr Sumaiya Syed. Post-mortem examinations of the remains and bodies of all 71 victims recovered from the building’s debris have been completed, the police surgeon confirmed. The rescue efforts at the site of the deadly Gul Plaza fire continued on Friday, entering their seventh day as authorities prepared to conclude the final stage of the search operation. District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso told Hum News that the operation was expected to be completed by the end of the day.

“The final list of missing persons stands at 77, while the confirmed death toll is 67,” Khoso said. He added that anyone still unaccounted for could contact the authorities, and that all search efforts were being carried out under the supervision of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) team.

Technical assessment of Gul Plaza

A technical committee from the SBCA, tasked with assessing the structural integrity of the fire-damaged plaza, visited the site on Thursday. Speaking to the media, engineer Arif Qasim, a member of the committee, described the building’s condition as “very bad” and declared the entire structure dangerous. “The Gul Plaza building will need to be demolished,” he said, clarifying that there was no immediate risk of the building collapsing on its own.

Qasim noted that despite the extensive damage, the Gul Tajara Mall within the complex had not suffered any harm, and only one column of the Rimpa Plaza section was affected. All work at the site was being conducted under the committee’s supervision to ensure safety.

Authorities have been focusing on completing the search and recovery process while assessing the extent of structural damage. The SBCA team’s findings are expected to guide the next steps regarding the plaza’s demolition and future safety measures at the site.

The technical committee has recommended the demolition of Karachi’s fire-ravaged Gul Plaza once the ongoing search operation concludes, declaring the building “dangerous.” The committee, comprising officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), conducted an inspection of the gutted plaza on MA Jinnah Road before making the recommendation..

Municipal commissioner removed

In the aftermath of the blaze, Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi has been removed from his position for unsatisfactory handling of the crisis. A notification issued by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah directed Zaidi to report to the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department. Samira Hussain, a grade-19 ex-PCS officer, has been given additional charge of the municipal commissioner post. Sources cited criticism of Zaidi’s prior record, including his response to a 2023 incident involving the death of a child.

Probe rules out electrical fault

According to Geo, preliminary investigations indicate that the fire originated in a shop selling artificial flowers and was likely triggered by children playing with matches or a lighter. Investigators have ruled out a short circuit as the cause. The blaze spread rapidly as stored items ignited, while several closed exit doors and a rooftop grill hindered evacuation. The building’s CCTV system was severely damaged, complicating the probe, which includes recording eyewitness statements and accounts from affected families.

Safety lapses under scrutiny

The City Trader Union revealed that the Gul Plaza market association collected Rs12.5 million per month in maintenance fees but failed to implement adequate fire safety measures. Traders and authorities have highlighted lapses in management, including the absence of proper firefighting arrangements, as contributing factors to the disaster. The provincial government has announced compensation of Rs10 million for the families of the deceased and financial support for all 1,200 shopkeepers.