Grief and desperation continue to grip families after a massive fire tore through Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, leaving at least 27 people dead and more than 70 still missing, according to rescue officials.
Relatives have gathered outside the damaged building, hoping for news as rescue operations remain slow due to the risk of structural collapse.
Families Await News of Missing Loved Ones
Muhammed Amin is searching for his brother, Naveed Memon, who was inside Gul Plaza when the fire broke out.
He said his nieces keep asking why their father has not returned home. “I have no answer for them,” Amin said, adding that his family is still waiting for confirmation about Naveed’s fate.
Another resident, Muhammad Qaiser, said his wife, sister, and daughter-in-law were among those missing. He last spoke to them around 8:00 pm before learning that a fire had broken out at the market.
Haroon, another local resident, said three of his brothers were inside the building. Two managed to escape, but one is still unaccounted for. He said his missing brother had called family members pleading for help while trapped inside.
Locked Exits and Rapid Spread of Fire
Gul Plaza housed around 1,200 wholesale shops across multiple floors, selling wedding clothes, toys, decorations, and household items. The market was usually crowded, especially during wedding and festival seasons.
Witnesses said the fire spread within minutes due to:
-
Highly flammable materials inside shops
-
Narrow corridors and dense stalls
-
Locked emergency exits
Senior police officials confirmed that only 3 of the building’s 16 exits were open, as most gates were locked because the market was near closing time.
Several survivors reported that exits were either blocked or locked when they tried to escape.
Survivors Describe Panic and Smoke
Shoaib, a 19-year-old shop worker, said smoke quickly filled the building, causing panic and confusion.
He tried to escape through one exit but found it locked. While attempting to find another route, he fainted and was pulled out by an unknown person.
His colleague and cousin, who worked on another floor, remains missing. Shoaib said his phone keeps ringing with calls from family members asking for updates, but he has no information to share.
Another shop owner, Rehan Faisal, said he survived only because his shop was near an exit, and he broke down a door to escape.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Structural Damage
Rescue officials said operations are slow because the building is severely damaged and at risk of collapsing.
Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a senior rescue officer, said many bodies are burned beyond recognition, and forensic testing will be required for identification.
Officials added that heavy machinery cannot be used safely in many areas of the structure, delaying recovery efforts.
Questions Raised Over Emergency Response
Public anger is growing over what many see as delays in rescue operations and poor building safety enforcement.
Protesters gathered near the site, demanding accountability. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab faced public criticism when he visited the area nearly 24 hours after the fire began.
Some survivors and relatives said fire services arrived late, while ambulances reached the area earlier but could not assist those trapped inside.
Rescue authorities stated that the first emergency call was received at 10:38 pm, and by the time firefighters arrived, flames had already engulfed upper floors.
Government Promises Investigation and Reforms
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered an investigation into:
-
The cause of the fire
-
Locked emergency exits
-
Delays in emergency response
-
Compliance with building safety regulations
Lawmakers across party lines have called for major reforms in building safety laws, inspections, and emergency preparedness, as the provincial assembly debated the tragedy.
The Prime Minister has also offered condolences and pledged government action.
Repeated Fires Raise Urban Safety Concerns
Residents say this is not the first major fire in Karachi’s Saddar area, raising serious concerns about enforcement of safety regulations in commercial buildings.
Families waiting outside the ruins of Gul Plaza say promises of investigations offer little comfort as they continue to search for loved ones.
“How many more people must die before something changes?” asked one relative of a missing victim.
