On the ninth day after the devastating fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, the death toll has risen to 73, while several people remain missing.
Sources reported that recovery operations at the shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road faced severe delays due to inoperative heavy machinery, causing temporary suspension of rescue efforts. Another body has been identified through DNA testing as Abdul Haseeb. So far, 23 victims have been identified, 16 of whom were confirmed through forensic DNA analysis. Human remains recently recovered from the third floor have been transferred to Civil Hospital for further examination.
The city remained in mourning as families continued funeral rites. In Delhi Colony, funeral prayers were held for four members of the same family from Gul Plaza, including three women. The deceased were 14-year-old Maryam, 35-year-old Misbah Parveen, 32-year-old Muhammad Saad, and 30-year-old Nimra. Two other family members remain missing. Many political leaders and citizens attended the prayers.
Notably, Nabi Bakhsh Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons, citing negligence and lack of safety measures as the cause of the fire. The report stated that the building’s exit routes and lighting were off during the fire, leading to higher casualties. A technical forensic team from Lahore has also arrived to assist local authorities. Experts have started marking different parts of the building, marking several areas with “H” to indicate high risk. Rescue officials said that 90 percent of the building has been searched, but debris removal is still ongoing.
