Even after more than 24 hours have passed, the fire that broke out at around 10:15 PM on Saturday night at Karachi’s well-known and busiest shopping center, Gul Plaza, has not been fully brought under control. Due to the fire, more than 1,200 shops and warehouses, along with merchandise worth billions of rupees, have been completely reduced to ashes. Owing to the intensity of the blaze, nearly 70 percent of the vast shopping center spread over more than two acres has collapsed, raising fears that the entire building may collapse completely.
Traders announce three days of mourning
According to information received from sources, affected traders stated that the fire has swallowed the earnings of their entire lives. Due to the negligence of government institutions, owners of assets worth crores of rupees have been rendered homeless in just one night. The victims alleged that despite immediate reporting of the fire, the first fire brigade vehicle arrived at the scene after a delay of approximately one and a half hours. Due to low water pressure, the fire engulfed the entire shopping plaza within a few hours.
According to the affected traders, the horrifying flames that erupted on Saturday night continued to consume their goods for several hours, while fire brigade personnel and other senior officials remained silent spectators. Helpless traders watched with their own eyes as one of Karachi’s most famous shopping plazas turned into a heap of ashes.
Traders operating in Gul Plaza stated that at the time of the fire, hundreds of citizens were present inside the shopping center along with shopkeepers for shopping. Due to the Sunday holiday the next day, the plaza was more crowded than usual. The affected traders claimed that the number of fatalities is far higher than the official government figures, and there is a fear that it may increase further with time. If immediate emergency measures are not taken, the death toll could reach into the hundreds.
According to the victims, it is difficult to estimate the financial losses at this stage, but preliminary estimates place the total loss in the billions of rupees. Moreover, the loss of human lives cannot be compensated at any cost. Traders alleged that the inexperienced fire brigade staff, lacking water and other essential equipment, waited for the building to collapse instead of extinguishing the fire.
Furthermore, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab arrived at the scene after several hours, while provincial ministers and other senior officials, instead of providing relief, added salt to the wounds by giving what the traders termed “ridiculous statements” to the media.
Meanwhile, according to sources, 25 hours after the fire, firefighters managed to enter Gul Plaza, while fire tenders are still engaged in extinguishing the remaining flames. Mobile phones of people trapped inside the building have been switched off, and contact with them has been lost.
According to sources, 1,200 shops have been completely gutted. Parts of the fire-affected building have begun to collapse. The exact number of people trapped inside is unknown. So far, families of 60 individuals have contacted the administration. According to welfare organizations, six people, including one firefighter, have lost their lives in the incident, while 22 people have been injured.
Eyewitnesses stated that the fire, which broke out at 10:15 PM on Saturday night, rapidly engulfed the entire shopping plaza. Rescue officials reported that the fire likely started on the mezzanine floor due to a short circuit and quickly spread to the ground and first floors. The smoke was so intense that many people fell unconscious and were immediately shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.
Fire brigade officials stated that it was a third-degree fire, and fire tenders from across the city were called in to control it. Firefighting operations continued using 20 fire tenders, four snorkels, and one water bowser.
Family members of those affected, gathered around the shopping plaza, are deeply worried about their loved ones. They believe that several people may still be trapped inside the dangerously unstable building. Due to the fire, two sections of the building have collapsed, and all shops have been completely destroyed.
During the rescue operation, two fire brigade personnel were injured after falling due to broken stairs. Sindh IG Javed Alam Odho, during his visit to the affected building, appealed to keep non-relevant individuals at a distance.
Grief-stricken relatives searching for their loved ones are seen with tearful eyes. Families have been visiting the plaza and hospitals since night in search of their missing relatives.
Chief Operating Officer Rescue Abid Jalal stated that more than 150 firefighters from Rescue 1122 and the fire brigade are currently engaged in operations. He said that 75 percent of the fire has been brought under control so far. He further added that the building is in an extremely dangerous condition; the rear portion had already collapsed, and now the front portion has also fallen.
According to him, conducting rescue operations inside the building under such hazardous conditions is extremely dangerous. For the safety of personnel, a search operation will be carried out only after the fire is completely extinguished.
In view of the incident, a helpline has been established for public convenience. In this regard, DC South Javed Nabi stated that any information or reports of missing persons should be conveyed to the DC South office. He said that information can be provided on the following numbers:
0313-5048048
021-99206372
021-99205625
He further instructed that details regarding missing persons should also be reported on these numbers.
