The death toll from the Gul Plaza tragedy has risen to 63 as rescue teams continue to clear debris and recover bodies from the collapsed building. In the latest development, 30 bodies were retrieved from a crockery shop on the mezzanine floor, bringing the total number of recovered bodies from the site to over 60.
The inferno, described as the city’s worst in more than a decade, broke out late Saturday at the multi-storey plaza, which contains around 1,200 shops and covers an area larger than a football field. Firefighters battled the flames for over 24 hours before bringing the blaze largely under control.
DIG South confirmed that search operations at Gul Plaza are ongoing. Rescue workers have also recovered parts of three additional bodies, which were immediately transferred to the Civil Hospital.
Currently, 86 individuals remain unaccounted for, with families of another missing person reporting to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Speaking to the media, Karachi Commissioner said the investigation into the Gul Plaza incident is highly complex, involving multiple angles.
He added that no single institution can be held solely responsible, and the investigation will aim to provide recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khokhro said that the building cannot be demolished until all missing persons are accounted for. He added that nearby Rampa Plaza has been temporarily closed, and officials have requested its building plans and related documents from the SBCA.
