30 More Bodies Recovered from Single Shop in Gul Plaza; Death Toll Rises to 61

Karachi: The death toll from the devastating Gul Plaza fire has risen to 61 after 30 additional bodies were recovered from the mezzanine floor during an ongoing search operation.

According to DIG South Asad Raza, shopkeepers had informed authorities about the possible presence of people on the mezzanine floor. All 30 bodies were recovered from a single crockery shop. He said debris removal has been temporarily halted, with priority now given to the recovery of bodies.

Officials stated that after the fire broke out, several people locked themselves inside shops to save their lives, and the last mobile phone locations of the victims were traced to the same area.

Shop Owner’s Account

Salman, the owner of the crockery shop, said that 14 bodies were recovered by the shop staff themselves. He added that the shop is located on the mezzanine floor and that his cousins and employees were present at the time of the incident, along with a large number of women and other individuals.

Condition of Remains

Police Surgeon Dr. Samia said that 21 sets of remains have so far been brought to the Civil Hospital from two shops. She explained that it is not yet possible to confirm whether these remains represent 21 complete bodies or parts of multiple victims.

She added that severely damaged human remains, including broken bones and teeth, are now being recovered instead of intact bodies. Due to the condition of the bones, DNA samples cannot be collected, making the identification process and handing over remains to families extremely difficult.

So far, three more bodies have been identified, while 17 bodies remain unidentifiable.

No Evidence of Sabotage

The Additional IG Karachi stated that no evidence of sabotage has been found so far and that investigations are being conducted thoroughly. He also dismissed reports about a missing dumper, calling them false.

Building Safety Concerns

Karachi Commissioner said that Rimpa Plaza, located adjacent to Gul Plaza, has suffered partial damage but is not structurally dangerous. However, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared parts of Rimpa Plaza unsafe and issued notices to the management and shop owners, banning the use of hazardous sections.

Investigations into the Gul Plaza tragedy are ongoing. The SBCA has submitted seven files to the investigation committee headed by the Karachi Commissioner, including three files related to pending court cases and illegal constructions at Gul Plaza.