DC Karachi Suspects More Bodies on Left Side of Gul Plaza Building
Karachi: Deputy Commissioner Karachi, Javed Nabi Khoso, has said that authorities suspect more bodies may be located on the left side of the Gul Plaza building, adding that rescue teams will be sent after creating an access route, hoping a passage can be found.
Speaking to the media outside Gul Plaza, the Deputy Commissioner said that rescue personnel were dispatched to the third and fourth floors in the morning and a detailed survey was conducted, but no bodies were recovered.
He said that immediately after the fire broke out, attempts were made within 15 to 20 minutes to enter the building from three different points. However, due to the intense flames, rescue teams could not approach the site. Rescue workers attempted entry from M.A. Jinnah Road and managed to save some people, although several rescuers were injured during the operation.
The DC said rescue efforts were carried out from all possible entry points, and trapped individuals were evacuated wherever access was possible. He added that the fire was extremely intense, preventing rescuers from entering the building despite 32 attempts to do so.
According to Javed Nabi Khoso, four points were identified and holes were created to gain access. Teams entered the building to a limited extent, but the intensity of the fire restricted further movement. He added that around 40 percent of the building has collapsed, and experts from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) have declared the remaining structure highly unstable. Traders were urged to cooperate with authorities and stay away from the red zone.
The Deputy Commissioner said a search operation will be carried out inside the building. He stated that the list of missing persons initially included 83 names, but after removing duplicate entries, 75 individuals have been confirmed missing, with the location of 39 linked to Gul Plaza.
He further said that the SBCA’s demolition team is present at the site and is guiding authorities on how to proceed with the operation. Vehicles parked on the rooftop have been removed and handed over to their owners, while motorcycles still inside the building will also be removed.
