Karachi: A horrific fire that broke out in Gul Plaza on Karachi’s busy business district MA Jinnah Road has rocked the city, leaving at least six people dead, 20 injured and several others feared trapped in the building. The fire brigade has classified the blaze as a third-degree blaze, while rescue operations are ongoing for 13 hours.
According to rescue officials, the fire initially broke out on the mezzanine floor of the shopping plaza and quickly spread to the ground and first floors. Later, the flames engulfed the second and third floors, while the fire reached the basement and roof where generators, AC plants and flammable materials were located.
The plaza houses more than 1,000 shops and the fire completely gutted the ground floor, while cracks in the rear sections caused three parts of the building to collapse.
Hospital authorities said they shifted 20 injured people to the Civil Hospital, where doctors reported that 11 remain in critical condition. The deceased include Aamir, Faraz and Asif. Officials confirmed that a firefighter also lost his life when part of the building collapsed during rescue operations.
Rescue officials said a stampede injured several people, while heavy smoke caused many others to lose consciousness.
However, rescue operations were facing severe difficulties. According to Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan, the fire brigade faced severe water shortage and traffic jams, due to which fire tenders reached the spot late. Residents of the area called for water tankers on their own.
According to the fire brigade, 20 fire tenders, a water bowser and two snorkels were trying to control the fire, but due to the intensity of the fire, immediate control could not be achieved.
On the other hand, family members have reported the disappearance of 6 women and several shopkeepers. Relatives of a shopkeeper, Arif, said he told them in his last call, “I am suffocating,” after which they lost contact with him.
Rescue officials said they cannot determine the exact number of people inside the building because the plaza is old and has complicated internal routes.
SSP City Arif Aziz said rescue teams safely evacuated more than 60 people from Gul Plaza, closed MA Jinnah Road to general traffic and deployed police, rangers and other agencies to carry out the operation jointly.
The Water Corporation imposed an emergency on Nipa and Safoora hydrants to ensure water supply.
Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said the government is monitoring the rescue operation and providing all available resources. She said authorities have imposed an emergency at the Civil Hospital, while the Sindh chief minister and the Karachi mayor continue to monitor the situation closely.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief over the incident and directed to provide full medical facilities to the injured and provide all possible help to the affected traders. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and directed to expedite rescue operations.
Rescue officials said they have not yet completely extinguished the fire and warned that more parts of the building could collapse. The situation has become more dangerous due to flammable materials, fuel in generators and vehicles parked on the roof.
Rescue officials say that it is not possible to provide final information about the people trapped inside until the fire is completely brought under control.
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