The Gul Plaza fire, one of the deadliest commercial building fires in Karachi’s recent history, has left large portions of the shopping complex gutted and unstable…reports Asian Lite News
Nearly a week after a devastating fire ripped through Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping complex, the death toll has climbed to 71 as rescue teams recovered more human remains during ongoing search operations, according to local media reports. Authorities say the operation is nearing completion, even as families of the missing continue to grapple with grief, anger and uncertainty.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said on Saturday that of the 82 people initially reported missing after the blaze, bodies or remains of 71 victims have now been recovered, while 11 individuals are still unaccounted for. He said approximately 90 per cent of the plaza has been cleared of debris and that rescue efforts are expected to conclude by Saturday night.
Khoso explained that rescue teams have re-entered the upper floors of the severely damaged building using snorkels and specialised equipment to search hard-to-reach areas. However, he noted that operations have not yet begun in what he described as the most sensitive section of the structure, due to safety concerns and the fragile condition of the site.
The Gul Plaza fire, one of the deadliest commercial building fires in Karachi’s recent history, has left large portions of the shopping complex gutted and unstable. Thick layers of rubble and debris have complicated search efforts, slowing the pace of recovery and prolonging the anguish of families waiting for news of their loved ones.
Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dunya News that only 16 of the recovered bodies have been identified so far. She said the identification process has become extremely complex because many of the remains are badly burned or decomposed. As a result, authorities are relying heavily on DNA testing, which is expected to take considerable time.
“The condition of the bodies has made visual identification nearly impossible in most cases,” Dr Syed said, adding that forensic teams are working to match DNA samples with family members to establish identities accurately. Officials have urged families to cooperate with the process, stressing that while it is slow, it is necessary to avoid errors.
Amid the tragedy, the Sindh government has begun the process of compensating the families of the deceased. Deputy Commissioner Khoso said documentation for eight victims’ families has already been completed and forwarded to the provincial authorities. The Sindh government has announced compensation of Rs 10 million (one crore rupees) for each victim’s family, according to Dunya News.
However, as rescue and administrative processes continue, frustration among families of the missing has spilled onto the streets. On Friday, relatives staged protests near the gutted shopping complex, demanding faster recovery efforts and clearer information from officials, The Express Tribune reported.
Women holding photographs of their sons, husbands and brothers gathered outside the charred building, accusing authorities and rescue teams of moving painfully slowly while their loved ones remained missing. Many said they had been shuttling between government offices, hospitals and the disaster site since the fire, receiving little more than vague assurances.
According to The Express Tribune, protesters questioned why debris clearance had not been completed even six days after the blaze, especially with parts of the structure still buried under rubble. Several women described the waiting period as “mentally unbearable,” saying the absence of concrete information was deepening their trauma with each passing hour.
Some family members also expressed concern that delays in clearing debris could further complicate identification efforts, as prolonged exposure to heat, moisture and time could degrade remains even more. They called on authorities to deploy additional resources to bring closure to affected families as quickly as possible.
Officials, meanwhile, have maintained that safety considerations are guiding the pace of operations, given the risk of further structural collapse. They have assured families that all remaining areas will be searched thoroughly before the operation is officially concluded.
As Karachi comes to terms with the scale of the tragedy, questions are also being raised about fire safety standards, building regulations and emergency preparedness in commercial complexes across the city. For now, however, the focus remains on completing the search, identifying the victims and providing some measure of relief to grieving families whose lives have been irrevocably altered by the disaster.
