Key Revelations Emerge in Gul Plaza Fire Probe as CCTV Footage Goes Missing
Karachi police investigating the tragic Gul Plaza fire have uncovered key revelations, including the disappearance of CCTV footage from the mezzanine, first, and second floors of the building.
According to investigation officials, the inquiry committee has obtained 20 minutes of CCTV footage related to the fire incident. The available footage from the mezzanine floor has been made part of both the criminal case and the official inquiry.
The investigation report states that the fire broke out at around 10:15 pm. However, shops reportedly remained open for nearly half an hour after the fire started. CCTV footage shows shopkeepers and customers still present in the plaza until around 11:00 pm.
It was further revealed that fire brigade and rescue teams began spraying water immediately upon arrival instead of first evacuating people from the building. While most individuals managed to escape, around 25 to 30 people remained inside the Dubai Crockery Shop, where shopkeepers allegedly stopped them from leaving.
According to a shopkeeper involved in rescue efforts, he guided nearly 150 customers to safety. He said he urged people inside the Dubai Crockery Shop to evacuate, but shopkeepers prevented them from doing so, telling them the fire would be extinguished and there was no need to leave.
The remains of the same 30 individuals were later recovered from the Dubai Crockery Shop, raising serious questions about negligence and failures during the evacuation process.
