Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping mall turned into a death trap as a massive fire claimed 60 lives, with 30 victims discovered huddled in one crockery shop, according to police updates. Local media, citing Jio News, reported the horrific details after the fire persisted for over 24 hours.
DIG Syed Asad Raza detailed how rescuers pulled the bodies from the mezzanine floor, suggesting the group had barricaded themselves inside hoping to escape the inferno. The ground-plus-three structure, home to 1,200 shops over 8,000 square yards—larger than a football field—saw significant portions crumble.
South District Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso vowed no hasty demolition, stating, ‘We won’t raze the building until the last missing person is found.’ Of the 86 initially reported missing, 39 were located within the site, 11 bodies identified, and 17 await DNA confirmation.
This catastrophe marks the deadliest fire in Karachi over the past decade, exposing vulnerabilities in high-density commercial buildings. The flames also scorched parts of neighboring Rimpa Plaza, as per Sindh Building Control Authority. Authorities now face mounting pressure to probe negligence and enforce fire safety reforms amid public outrage.