Fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza Claims 15 Lives, Dozens Still Missing; Last Message of Bride-to-Be Revealed

Karachi: A devastating fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road on Saturday night has left 15 people dead, including a firefighter, while 54 individuals remain missing.

The blaze, which broke out around 10:15 pm, continued to rage despite the arrival of multiple fire brigades, ultimately destroying two sections of the building. Over the course of 36 hours, rescue teams recovered the bodies of five more individuals, including a child, bringing the confirmed death toll to 15. Unidentified bodies have been temporarily stored in Edhi cold storage.

According to the Sindh government’s help desk, 70 people were initially reported missing, with three more names added to the list on Sunday. DIG South Asad Raza stated that most of the deceased were men, with one woman among them, and that rescue operations continue. Chief Fire Officer Humayun Ahmed confirmed that the main fire has been fully extinguished, with cooling operations ongoing.

Among the victims is a bride-to-be, who, according to her family, had visited Gul Plaza for wedding shopping after Eid. Her last call revealed she had completed her shopping and would leave for home in 15 minutes. The family reported that four members remain missing, including the bride, her mother, a sibling, and her grandmother.

A trapped shopkeeper, Aftab, sent a final message to his family during the fire, stating, “I am trapped, the fire is very dangerous, it’s hard to escape. Forgive me if any mistake or negligence occurred.”

The tragedy has shocked Karachi, as rescue operations continue and authorities work to account for the missing individuals.