KARACHI: A search operation at Karachi’s Gul Plaza started after 10pm on Sunday night as hearth crews had been lastly in a position to douse the fireplace after 24 hours, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah saying that six deaths have been confirmed, however over 50 folks had been reportedly lacking.
In keeping with Rescue 1122 officers, their groups had lastly managed to enter the charred constructing to launch a seek for survivors and our bodies because the cooling course of was nonetheless underway.
The fireplace, which erupted on Saturday night time on the mall positioned on MA Jinnah Highway, had been introduced beneath management by about 70 per cent by late Sunday afternoon, officers stated.
Talking to the media at round 7pm, CM Murad stated, “I say with utmost grief that to date, it’s confirmed that six folks have misplaced their lives, together with KMC firefighter Furqan Shaukat.”
He added that 22 others had been harm and had now been discharged from hospitals as that they had confronted minor accidents.
“However what could be very regarding […] is that round 58 folks — some folks even say greater than 60 — are lacking. Could God give them extra life.”
In keeping with an inventory shared with Daybreak across the similar time, the South district workplace had obtained studies of 53 lacking folks from their households to date.
The Sindh authorities has established a helpline to report anybody lacking because of the hearth or to direct their queries, which may be contacted at 0313-5048048, 021-99206372 and 021-99205625.
A separate assertion by the South Zone police additionally listed the next helpline contact numbers: 021-99205670, 021-99201196 and 021-99205691.
Lots of of individuals had gathered across the constructing as we speak, together with distraught retailer homeowners whose companies had turned to ash.
Throughout his media discuss, CM Murad famous that the mall was a three-storey constructing with a basement and housed greater than 1,000 outlets.
Whereas the chief minister famous that the reason for the fireplace couldn’t be ascertained for certain at this stage, he stated a brief circuit was being blamed for igniting the blaze in a store with flammable materials.
Terming it a “very upsetting” incident, he pressured that authorities had been making efforts to seek out lacking folks.
The Sindh CM detailed that round 26 hearth tenders, 10 bowsers and a number of snorkels took half within the hearth extinguishing operations.
CM Murad, citing what he had been knowledgeable, stated an alert in regards to the hearth was obtained at 10:16pm, and the primary hearth tender had reached the positioning at 10:27pm.
“All municipal authorities acted instantly, in line with what I’ve been knowledgeable, and all these items might be verified.”
President pronounces civil award for deceased firefighter
President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday spoke CM Murad over the phone to inquire in regards to the newest scenario of the fireplace, stressing the necessity to use all obtainable sources to make sure the success of rescue and firefighting operations, a press release from the President’s Home stated.
“The president additionally paid tribute to firefighter Farqan Shaukat, who misplaced his life within the blaze, and requested the Sindh authorities to appoint him for a civil award.”
He directed authorities to make sure correct medical take care of the injured and take speedy steps for the rehabilitation of affected households, whereas emphasising strict enforcement of fireplace security legal guidelines and the modernisation of security inspection mechanisms in industrial and residential buildings to forestall related incidents sooner or later.
A press release from the Prime Minister’s Workplace stated PM Shehbaz Sharif additionally inquired in regards to the incident over the cellphone, providing all types of help to the provincial authorities from the Centre.
‘Want correctly marked hearth exits’
Stating that the mall was constructed within the Eighties, he stated, “I admit that we couldn’t management the deterioration that, with none examine, multi-level buildings had been allowed. And now if we cease them, the builders make a fuss that they’re being bothered.”
He highlighted that many buildings would not have supplies to extinguish hearth obtainable contained in the buildings, and pressured the necessity for hearth exits to be correctly marked.
‘Flammable materials largest problem’
At round 4pm, South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javed Nabi Khoso instructed Daybreak that the fireplace had been introduced beneath management by as much as 70pc.
Talking to Geo Information, DC Khoso stated authorities had been gathering details about the variety of folks trapped contained in the constructing.
“We’ve cordoned off the world and are attempting to extinguish the blazes phase-wise,” he stated.
Rescue 1122 Chief Working Officer (COO) Abid Jalal instructed Geo Information within the afternoon that “firefighting is underway from all three sides”.
He additionally stated that the fireplace had been introduced beneath management by about 70-75pc. Nonetheless, he pressured that the constructing was very dilapidated.
“The bottom has collapsed, and the entrance space can also be about to break down.”
Terming flammable materials contained in the mall because the “largest problem” in totally dousing the blaze, COO Jalal identified that accessing the constructing was very troublesome.
“Sending firefighters inside proper now just isn’t with out hazard,” the rescue officer stated. Due to this fact, he added, the staff’s technique was to regulate the fireplace first after which start the search as soon as they had been in a position to enter the mall.
COO Jalal detailed that over 125 folks, together with firefighters, had been engaged within the ongoing operations and about 20-22 autos of the fireplace brigade had been concerned.
A DawnNewsTV correspondent current on the web site reported that each one sides of the mall had been impacted, with one having “utterly collapsed”.
He added that a number of folks had come to search for their kin, together with shopkeepers working on the mall.
Delhi Colony residents Mansoor and Jameel instructed DawnNewsTV that they had been unable to contact six of their relations who had come to Gul Plaza final night time for procuring.
They stated their final contact was at round 10:10pm final night time, after which their cellular numbers weren’t reachable. The lacking members comprised three ladies, two males and a 14-year-old lady.
Talking to the media on the web site within the afternoon, Karachi Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad stated the seek for lacking folks will start after the fireplace has been put out and the cooling course of has been accomplished.
‘Very outdated’ constructing
“There have been items equivalent to crockery, garments, electrical home equipment, cosmetics and perfumes in varied outlets, as a result of which the fireplace intensified,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan defined.
The spokesperson added that on Sunday morning, 20 hearth tenders from totally different departments and establishments had been being employed to extinguish the blaze.
“However the constructing seems very outdated, and there’s a hazard that its construction might fall at any time due to the impression of the fireplace. Thus, the rescue operation is being carried out with excessive warning,” he stated.
“Once we arrived, the fireplace from the bottom flooring had unfold to the higher flooring, and virtually the complete constructing was already engulfed in flames,” Khan instructed Reuters.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson instructed BBC Urdu early on Sunday that the fireplace “unfold over 8,000 sq. yards could be very intense and the method to extinguish it [fully] may take one to 2 days”.
Earlier within the day, police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed additionally confirmed that six our bodies and 11 injured had been delivered to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) to date. State-run APP reported that an emergency has been declared on the hospital.
In a press release run by APP, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated “greater than 17 folks” had been taken to hospitals as a result of suffocation, a number of of whom had been discharged after receiving medical remedy.
Noting that Gul Plaza was an outdated constructing, he stated the ultimate reason for the fireplace will solely be identified after the completion of investigations. He added that 40 snorkels had been collaborating within the operation.
A firefighter recognized as Furqan Shoukat additionally misplaced his life through the fire-extinguishing efforts, in line with a press release by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
“On this time of grief, we stand with the household of martyred Furqan and the Karachi Metropolitan Company will present full assist to its martyred workers,” the mayor was quoted as saying by APP.
He stated groups and equipment are totally engaged in extinguishing the fireplace.
In a separate assertion, Wahab stated all municipal departments have been directed to supply full assist to the victims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a separate assertion reported by state-run Radio Pakistan, additionally expressed sorrow over the firefighter’s dying.
He highlighted that Furqan sacrificed his life whereas saving the general public, and prayed for his elevated ranks.
‘Seemingly attributable to brief circuit’
“It seems to have been attributable to a circuit breaker,” Sindh Inspector Normal (IG) Javed Alam Odho instructed reporters on the web site, noting that Gul Plaza housed round 1,200 outlets and in addition had a basement.
“The structure and building of this market was such, and secondly, the character of the gadgets in it — equivalent to carpets, blankets and different objects manufactured from resins — so the fireplace continues to be simmering due to these.”
Backyard Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mohsin Raza additionally stated in a press release on Saturday night time that the fireplace appeared to have been attributable to a brief circuit at one of many outlets, earlier than spreading to the complete mall.
Sindh Residence Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directed officers to divert site visitors within the space to various routes for the secure passage of residents.
In a press release, he stated that the reason for the fireplace must be ascertained via a radical investigation. He stated that the constructing must be secured in order that the fireplace doesn’t unfold.
The minister stated the routes must be cleared so that fireplace brigade autos may entry the scene.
A Sindh Rangers spokesperson stated in a press release that personnel had been deployed to the scene of the incident.
“Rangers personnel are actively taking part in rescue actions and rescue operations together with the fireplace brigade workers,” the assertion, which was issued shortly after the fireplace erupted, stated. “Officers and personnel will stay on the scene till the rescue operation is accomplished.”
The assertion additional learn that along with aiding in rescue operations, a contingent of Rangers had been deployed to cordon off the constructing for the security of civilians and to make sure site visitors move.
“Alongside hearth tenders, Rangers personnel are evacuating trapped folks and making certain the security of valuables,” the assertion learn, including that defending lives and stopping the fireplace from additional spreading was a high precedence.
President, PM vow help as merchants worry large losses
Merchants feared large losses as their items had been lowered to ashes by the blaze.
Whereas the estimates differ, the All Metropolis Merchants Ittehad Affiliation (ACTIA) estimated losses price round Rs2-2.5 billion, together with “restore and reconstruction prices”.
In a press release, ACTIA patron-in-chief Sharjeel Goplani stated chairman Zahid Amin and different members of the affiliation had performed an evaluation of the affected mall.
Addressing the Sindh authorities and the prime minister, Goplani stated, “At the moment, 1,200 merchants have suffered losses. This must be compensated instantly.”
President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz expressed their deep grief over the fireplace at Gul Plaza and the ensuing lack of lives.
In a press release reported by APP, the premier instructed that each one attainable help must be supplied to the affected merchants and different people, and that each one obligatory services must be supplied to the injured.
He pressured that each one related departments ought to work collectively within the rescue operation.
In his assertion, President Zardari directed that the Sindh authorities — which is of his PPP — and the related authorities “present speedy and each attainable help to the affected folks and the merchants”.
“No stone must be left unturned in offering the perfect medical services to the injured,” the assertion quoted him as saying.
Memon, in a press release reported by APP, stated the Sindh authorities will determine the longer term plan of action after an entire evaluation of the losses.
The minister stated that whether or not it’s the dealer neighborhood or different affected people, the federal government will make each effort to supply most attainable help throughout the framework of regulation and laws.
CM Murad orders inquiry
Taking discover of the incident, CM Murad issued orders to Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi for a right away inquiry into the matter and to arrange a report on the reason for the fireplace.
CM Murad was briefed in regards to the incident earlier within the day on the CM Home by Commissioner Naqvi and DC Khoso, who knowledgeable him that the fireplace broke out between 9:45pm and 10:15pm.
“The fireplace security preparations within the constructing must be inspected,” CM Murad was quoted as saying in a press release.
He ordered the strict implementation of fireplace security guidelines and motion towards these whose negligence or carelessness could be confirmed.
“A hearth security audit ought to instantly be performed of Karachi’s industrial buildings,” CM Murad stated.
In keeping with the briefing, greater than 1,200 outlets had been gutted within the incident. An enormous emergency response was launched, involving 22 hearth brigade autos, 10 water bowzers, 4 snorkel autos, and 33 Rescue 1122 ambulances.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had directed CM Murad and Wahab to deploy all sources to regulate the fireplace.
Expressing grief over the lack of lives and property, he demanded a right away probe into the blaze and ordered that steps be taken to forestall such future tragedies.
Chief secretary, governor go to web site
Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah visited the positioning of the incident earlier within the day to evaluate the rescue operations.
The South deputy commissioner and Rescue 1122 officers briefed him on the steps taken to regulate the fireplace.
The chief secretary issued orders for the deployment of all obtainable hearth tenders and extra rescue staff.
Quickly after the fireplace started, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori had additionally visited Gul Plaza, the place he was briefed on the rescue and aid operations.
Standing alongside the merchants whose outlets had been ablaze, the governor issued directives for the rehabilitation of the affected.
Previous to his go to, in a press release from his workplace, Tessori expressed concern over the incident and ordered the related authorities to instantly expedite rescue and aid operations.
He additionally ordered a right away report on the incident and firefighting operations, whereas assuring merchants and others affected by the blaze of full cooperation.
Frequent fires in metropolis
Gul Plaza has witnessed hearth incidents up to now as effectively.
In August 2016, greater than 25 outlets had been burnt in an enormous hearth that broke out within the multi-storey market. It was believed {that a} brief circuit triggered the fireplace.
A hearth at a warehouse in Gul Plaza in August 2008, additionally attributable to an electrical short-circuit, destroyed some items. Nonetheless, no casualty was reported.
Fires incessantly erupt in buildings throughout Pakistan as a result of a mixture of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of security laws, and widespread negligence. Many constructions lack correct hearth exits, alarms, and emergency protocols, whereas defective wiring and overloaded energy programs improve the chance {of electrical} brief circuits.
At a convention in October 2025 following a number of hearth incidents, metropolis planners, hearth specialists and catastrophe administration authorities raised severe considerations over the deteriorating state of fireplace preparedness in Karachi.
They urged authorities to take speedy motion to align the metropolis’s hearth security programs with worldwide requirements, warning that the present state leaves the town dangerously uncovered to large-scale emergencies.
In December, the Sindh Meeting voted unanimously in favour of an opposition-sponsored decision that known as for the great modernisation of Karachi’s insufficient and substandard firefighting system.
Extra enter from Reuters
