Karachi: The fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road late last night has been largely brought under control. Two parts of the building collapsed due to the fire, killing 6 people including a firefighter and injuring 30, while 58 people are still missing.
According to Express News, a fire broke out at 10:15 pm in the famous shopping center Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi and continued to grow. Fire brigade vehicles arrived in large numbers, but the fire continued to grow. Two parts of the building collapsed due to the fire, killing 6 people and injuring many others.
According to reports received from hospitals, people who were unconscious due to smoke were sent home after first aid. Two firefighters, Irshad and Bilal, were injured and are undergoing treatment at PNS Shifa. A total of thirty people were injured, of whom 13 were brought to the Burns Center, 15 to its Trauma Center and two to Jinnah Hospital.
According to sources, the deceased include Kashif son of Younus, 40 years old, Faraz son of Abrar, 55 years old, Muhammad Amir son of unknown, 30 years old, Furqan son of Shaukat Ali, 25 years old and others.
Similarly, the injured include Haseeb son of Wasim, 25 years old, Wasim son of Saleem, 20 years old, Daniyal son of Siraj, 20 years old, Sadiq son of unknown, 35 years old, Hamza son of Muhammad Ali, 22 years old, Rahim son of Gul Muhammad, 25 years old, Fahad son of Muhammad Ayub, 20 years old, Jawad son of Javed, 18 years old, Ayan son of unknown, 25 years old, Abdullah son of Zaheer, 20 years old, Usman son of Asghar Ali, 20 years old, Fahad son of Hanif, 47 years old, Zain son of Abdullah, 23 years old, Nader son of unknown, 50 years old and others.
Fire controlled up to ninety percent, Commissioner Karachi
The Commissioner Karachi says that the fire has been controlled up to ninety percent, the cooling process will start after some time.
58 people still missing, list of names revealed
People have filed complaints with the Deputy Commissioner that 58 people are still missing, while according to the President of Gul Plaza Traders Association, 80 to 100 people may be present in the building.
CM’s visit
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah visited Gul Plaza. Talking to the media, he said that people come here to shop, nowadays it is the wedding season, last night after 10 pm, there was a report of a fire here, our municipal authorities responded immediately and informed me, the first fire tender reached here at 10:27 pm, the fire extinguishing operation started, about 26 fire tenders, four snorkels and 10 bowsers participated, apart from KMC, Pakistan Navy also provided one of its snorkels; 3 fire extinguishers also came from the Civil Aviation Authority but with great regret that according to the information so far, 6 people have lost their lives, including a firefighter from KMC.
The Sindh Chief Minister said that 22 people were injured and were given medical aid. Unfortunately, more than 58 or 60 people are missing. May Allah Almighty grant them life. It was a basement and a three-storey building. There were more than a thousand shops here. It is too early to say anything definitive about the manner in which the fire broke out. Some say that the fire broke out after a short circuit in one of the shops and there was such material there that the fire spread quickly. The firefighters could not find a place to enter, which increased the losses.
There were 1200 shops in Gul Plaza, DIG South
DIG South has said that a third-degree fire occurred in Gul Plaza. Police, security agencies and rescue teams are engaged in rescue operations with the district administration. The fire has been brought under control to a large extent. On the instructions of the Sindh government, the South Zone Police has set up a helpline.
He said that information about the missing persons is being collected. Since the night of the accident, 6 bodies have been recovered and handed over to the heirs after identification. Rescue official Furqan is also among the martyrs. 22 injured are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. There were 1,200 shops in Gul Plaza.
According to DIG South, additional police personnel have been deployed around Gul Plaza. The routes are being cleared for rescue teams. The real cause of the fire will be revealed in the investigation after cooling.
More than 20 fire brigade vehicles participated in the operation
According to fire brigade officials, the fire broke out in the building late at night. The fire was declared third-degree. A firefighter was crushed to death when the rear part collapsed near Gul Plaza. More than 20 fire brigade vehicles from across the city are engaged in the operation. Two snorkels are also busy controlling the fire outside the building.
Fire brigade officials said that the condition of the building is critical, so it is not possible to enter the building, the situation will be clear after the debris is removed from the building.
The Chief Fire Officer said that all the shops and warehouses on the ground floor are engulfed in fire, the fire has been declared third-degree and fire tenders have been called from all over the city, the trapped people are being rescued with the help of snorkels.
According to officials, the fire at the shopping plaza reached the third floor, while there is also a basement market in Gul Plaza. The building has become dilapidated due to the fire and may collapse at any time.
The CPLC Identification Program team set up a camp outside the Civil Hospital Trauma Center. According to Incharge Aamir Hassan, victims can provide details about their missing loved ones at the CPLC Help Desk. The Identification Team works to identify the deceased and trace their heirs.
According to the Incharge, there is a possibility that many people are still in the rubble and building. So far, the relatives of 6 missing people have contacted and submitted their details. The CPLC program makes it possible to identify unidentified bodies with the help of DNA. In the past, the same team had made it possible to identify the bodies of those who died in the PIA plane crash, the Bella tragedy, Nooriabad and others.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassan Al-Haseeb Khan said that a fire was reported in shops near Gul Plaza, after which the Fire and Rescue Team along with an ambulance and a fire brigade truck were sent to the scene.
According to Express News reporter Muhammad Shah Mir Khan, the fire brigade is trying to control the fire that broke out at 10:15 pm, but despite the efforts of the rescue officials, the fire flares up again.
According to the reporter, firefighters and rescue officials could not enter the building during the fire, which can be used to estimate the severity of the fire, while the pillars of the building, etc., broke and collapsed.
The spokesperson of the Water Board said in a statement that the fire brigade and Rescue 1122 sought immediate help from the Water Corporation regarding the fire incident in Gul Plaza and imposed an emergency on Nipa and Safoora hydrants on the instructions of CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui.
He said that the Water Corporation immediately dispatched water tankers to the scene, and the Hydrants Cell In-charge Muhammad Siddiqui Tanio remained in constant contact with the fire brigade and rescue officials.
The spokesperson said that the focal person CEO for Hydrants Cell Shahbaz Bashir is personally supervising the operation, uninterrupted water supply was ensured to the fire brigade in the fire extinguishing process and there was full cooperation with the Water Corporation Fire Brigade and rescue agencies.
On the instructions of the Mayor of Karachi, KMC heavy machinery reached Gul Plaza
On the instructions of Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the heavy machinery of the Karachi Metropolitan Municipality led by the Municipal Commissioner and other officers reached the scene.
According to the spokesperson, Municipal Commissioner Syed Muhammad Afzal Zaidi directly supervised the rescue operation. The machinery of the municipal services and fire brigade remained at the scene, and more machinery was also on alert if needed.
Sindh Rangers personnel also participated in the rescue operation
Keeping in mind the seriousness of the incident, on the special instructions of DG Rangers Sindh, a well-equipped contingent of Sindh Rangers immediately reached the scene and participated in the rescue operations.
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesori visits
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesori reached Gul Plaza and met the affected traders. He was briefed on the fire incident and reviewed the rescue and relief operations.
The Sindh Governor also issued immediate instructions on the losses of the victims and rehabilitation measures.
Bilawal Bhutto expresses grief over the loss of lives and huge financial loss
Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives and huge financial loss due to the horrific fire.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the fire incident and said that he equally shares the grief of the affected families in this difficult time.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed the Sindh Chief Minister and the Mayor of Karachi to utilize all available resources for extinguishing the fire and rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to the victims.
Mayor of Karachi expresses grief
Mayor of Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives due to the fire in Gul Plaza, saying that he is deeply saddened by the loss of lives, and stands with the grieving families in this difficult time.
Mayor of Karachi said that fire brigade and rescue teams are present at the spot while rescue and relief operations are underway.
Mayor of Karachi directed all departments of the Greater Municipality to remain alert and said that all possible assistance and immediate rescue should be provided to the victims so that further loss of lives can be avoided.
Ready to provide all possible assistance to the Sindh government at the federal level, Mustafa Kamal
Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives due to the fire in Gul Plaza on Karachi MA Jinnah Road, saying that he shares the grief of the families of the deceased.
He said that he prays for the speedy recovery of those injured in the fire incident. The Health Minister directed that the injured be provided with immediate and quality medical facilities.
Mustafa Kamal offered that the federal level is ready to provide all possible assistance to the Sindh government, rescue agencies should take urgent steps to safely evacuate the people trapped in the affected building, controlling the fire as soon as possible and preventing further loss of life should be the top priority.
He said that the provincial and city governments should make the fire brigade and rescue operations more effective.
Speaker of the Sindh Assembly expresses condolences
Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Syed Owais Qadir Shah, while regretting the tragic incident of fire in Gul Shopping Plaza and the loss of precious lives and financial loss, expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families.
Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Syed Owais Qadir Shah prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed the relevant institutions to give every possible help to the injured.