KARACHI (MNN); As the death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza rose to at least 21 on Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said dozens of people were still missing and announced Rs10 million in compensation for each deceased victim’s family.
The blaze at the shopping plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road, which erupted late Saturday night, was declared under control after more than 24 hours on Sunday. However, firefighting operations had to resume when flames re-emerged from smouldering debris.
Rescue 1122 and Edhi Foundation confirmed that the death toll increased as more bodies were recovered from the gutted building and shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalal said that although more than 20 bodies had been recovered, the final number of fatalities could not yet be confirmed due to severely burnt and fragmented remains.
He said body parts recovered from different locations would require forensic and technical verification to determine the exact number of victims.
Addressing a press conference alongside representatives of the business community, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and announced Rs10 million in compensation for each victim’s family, stating that while no amount could replace human life, the government would extend all possible support. He said the compensation process would begin immediately.
The chief minister said the number of casualties could possibly be much higher, as several people were still unaccounted for.
Rescue 1122 said an integrated and technically supervised search and rescue operation was under way, with urban search and rescue units, heavy machinery and disaster response vehicles deployed at the site. Three separate search operations were being conducted at multiple points, while cooling and firefighting continued to ensure safety.
Officials warned that the building’s structure had been severely weakened and posed a risk of collapse at any time. The operation was therefore being conducted in phases with extreme caution.
Pakistan Navy rescue teams assisting at the site said the fire was deep-seated and smoke continued to rise despite control efforts. Authorities said the cause of the fire remained unknown, though an electrical short circuit was initially suspected.
Police said DNA samples of victims’ relatives were being collected to help identify unrecognisable bodies. Officials also revealed that out of 16 gates in the plaza, only three exits were open at the time of the incident.
Inquiry committee formed
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced the formation of an inquiry committee headed by Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to investigate the incident. He said the purpose of the inquiry was to identify shortcomings and prevent similar tragedies in the future, adding that action would be taken if evidence of negligence or sabotage emerged.
He said nearly 40 per cent of the building had collapsed, while the remaining structure was also unsafe, raising concerns that the entire plaza might need to be demolished.
The chief minister also pledged to rehabilitate affected traders and said a separate committee had been formed to assess losses and recommend restoration measures. Temporary space would be allocated to businesses impacted by the fire.
He recalled previous fire incidents in Karachi markets and said the government would strengthen local disaster management authorities and improve emergency response capacity.
Scores missing
The Sindh government established helplines to report missing persons, while traders’ representatives said over 40 shopkeepers and sales staff were unaccounted for. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said more than 70 people were feared missing, calling the incident a national tragedy.
Relatives of missing persons shared harrowing accounts, saying they had lost contact with loved ones who were inside the plaza at the time of the fire.
Traffic police issued advisories, closing a section of M.A. Jinnah Road and announcing alternate routes due to ongoing rescue and debris removal operations.
Condolences poured in from foreign diplomats, including representatives of the United Kingdom, Turkey, Russia, Germany and France, expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and solidarity with the people of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, traders and residents criticised delayed response and lack of resources, claiming that timely and effective firefighting could have reduced the scale of the tragedy.
