Gul Plaza Fire: Pakistan Army, FWO Join Rescue Operation

KARACHI (  WEB  NEWS  )

A massive fire that broke out at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road has turned into a major emergency, with search and rescue operations continuing amid fears that several people remain trapped inside the building. Firefighters are battling the blaze while police, Rangers and rescue teams remain on the ground as authorities work to control the situation and account for the missing.

Rescue operations at Gul Plaza remain underway as the Pakistan Army and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) have joined the emergency response, deploying heavy machinery and specialised teams to assist in the search and recovery efforts.

According to officials, Army units and FWO machinery have been brought in to clear debris and reach areas that remain inaccessible following the massive fire. A special engineering team has also been placed on standby to support structural assessment and safe entry into the damaged building.

Authorities said the Army is providing full support to ensure trapped persons are rescued as quickly and safely as possible, while coordination continues between civil administration, rescue services and security agencies.

The operation continues amid fears that several people may still be trapped inside the building.

Search and rescue operations have been launched inside the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road after a devastating blaze tore through the commercial building.

Rescue 1122 volunteers have entered the structure and begun searching the burnt sections of the plaza, while teams are focusing on the shops at the front of the building, where heavy damage has been reported.

Authorities say the operation is being carried out with extreme caution due to the fragile condition of the building, as fears remain that people may still be trapped inside.

Rescue officials confirmed that the search operation is ongoing and further updates will be shared as the operation progresses.

Traders at Gul Plaza protested the delayed visit of Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, voicing anger over what they described as a lack of immediate official response following the massive fire that ravaged the market.

According to reports, some traders attempted to breach the gates of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in frustration, prompting authorities to deploy additional security personnel to maintain order.

During his visit, the Mayor called in the market president and a few other representatives to discuss the ongoing relief and support measures. He also reprimanded relevant officials for any lapses in the emergency response to the fire.

The traders raised slogans against the administration, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay in both relief efforts and official visits to the devastated market.

The massive fire that tore through Gul Plaza Shopping Centre has been described by fire department officials as unprecedented in scale, with flames erupting simultaneously across multiple areas of the market. The blaze, which affected over 1,500 shops across approximately 1.75 acres, posed extraordinary challenges for firefighters attempting to contain it.

Officials revealed that the fire alert was received at 10:26 pm on Saturday, and fire tenders reached the scene within minutes. Due to the fire’s intensity, all city fire stations were mobilized, with additional personnel called in to assist. However, firefighters faced difficulties navigating the market as emergency access routes were blocked and large crowds hampered operations, despite a sufficient supply of water.

Tragically, one firefighter lost his life while battling the blaze. The Chief Fire Officer said the fire was unlike anything the city had witnessed before, with flames spreading to multiple sections of the plaza at the same time.

Regarding the cause, authorities said it remains under investigation. Preliminary indications suggest that a short circuit or a simultaneous double-phase electricity surge could have triggered the fire, but no definitive conclusion has yet been reached.

Fire department officials emphasized that rescue operations remain ongoing and that every effort is being made to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of personnel on the ground.

A massive fire at Gul Plaza Shopping Centre on MA Jinnah Road has left at least six dead, including a firefighter, 22 injured, and over 60 people reported missing, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah confirmed on Sunday.

The blaze, which broke out after 10:00 pm on Saturday, affected a major commercial hub with more than 1,000 shops attracting shoppers from across Karachi.

The first fire tender reached the scene at 10:27 pm, and operations involved the Fire Brigade, Pakistan Navy, and rescue teams, CM Shah said.

“Our main effort is to ensure that all missing people are found,” he said, adding that firefighters faced challenges accessing certain areas inside the building.

CM Shah confirmed that relief will be provided to affected families and that authorities are working to support small traders who suffered losses. Investigations will be conducted if the fire brigade response was delayed or any negligence is found.

“We pray that all missing individuals are found safely,” the Chief Minister added, expressing solidarity with families who lost loved ones.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities continue to coordinate rescue efforts at the site.

As per the latest updates, Firefighters have brought 60 to 70 per cent of the blaze at Gul Plaza under control, while search and rescue operations continue amid fears that several people remain trapped under the rubble, South DIG Police said on Sunday.

According to the DIG South, Gul Plaza housed around 1,200 shops and a portion of the building has collapsed. So far, reports of 38 missing persons have been received, and authorities are collecting detailed information to trace them.

He confirmed that six bodies have been recovered and handed over to the families, while 22 injured people are under treatment. A rescue worker, Farqan, is among those who lost their lives in the operation.

On the instructions of the Sindh government, the South Zone police have set up a helpline for families of the affected, while additional police contingents have been deployed around the site. Routes for rescue teams have been cleared to ensure uninterrupted emergency operations.

Authorities have released a preliminary list of 40 missing individuals, including men, women, and children.

The Deputy Commissioner South has set up a dedicated missing persons desk, and families can submit details of missing relatives.

The Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, has instructed authorities to trace and rescue all missing individuals.

Helpline Numbers:

• 021-99206372 / 021-99205625

• 021-99205670 / 0313-5048048

• 021-99201196 / 021-99205691

Authorities urge the public to report missing persons or provide any relevant information through these helplines.

Earlier, the CPLC Shanakht Programme established a help desk to assist families searching for their missing loved ones following the Gul Plaza tragedy.

The Shanakht team set up a camp outside the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, where relatives can provide details of missing persons. The programme specializes in the accurate identification of victims in major incidents and in tracing next of kin.

Project in-charge Aamir Hassan said there are still concerns that several people may be trapped under the debris and inside the damaged structure. So far, the families of six missing persons have contacted the help desk and submitted their details.

He added that unidentified bodies can be matched with families using DNA testing, which will help ensure proper identification and closure for the affected families.

Death toll in Karachi’s Gul Plaza deadly fire on Sunday jumped to six after a firefighter lost his life during the rescue operation.

A massive fire broke out at shops inside Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road, Karachi on Saturday night around 10pm.

The blaze has been declared a third-degree fire by authorities.

The condition of 11 injured individuals is reported to be critical. The deceased have been identified as Aamir (30), Faraz (55) and Asif (40), while the identities of the remaining victims are being confirmed.

Initial reports indicate that the fire erupted on the mezzanine floor of the shopping plaza, which comprises a ground floor, mezzanine and two additional floors.

The flames quickly spread to shops on the ground and first floors.

Fire brigade vehicles reportedly reached the scene nearly an hour after the fire broke out. Rescue officials said several people were still trapped inside the market, while four fire tenders and a snorkel were engaged in firefighting operations.

President of the Gul Plaza Traders Association, Tanveer Qasim, broke down in tears during a media interaction, stating that an estimated 80 to 100 people could still be inside the building.

He said fire brigade teams were repeatedly running out of water and diesel, adding that desperate calls for help were being received from people trapped inside the market. “We appeal to the government to rescue those inside immediately,” he said.

“We are not concerned about our goods. Our only plea is to save the lives of the shopkeepers trapped inside. The traders have already been destroyed financially — please bring the people out alive,” he urged.

Tanveer Qasim said that water shortages severely hampered firefighting efforts, and that the traders witnessed everything being destroyed before their eyes.

Questioning the authorities, he asked what the government was doing as one of the city’s major tax-paying markets was reduced to ruins. He claimed that traders themselves had rescued between 200 and 250 people.

A devastating fire that broke out at around 10pm last night at the commercial centre Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road could not be brought under control, resulting in the collapse of the back portion of the building.

Rescue operations are continuing at Gul Plaza, though the collapse has raised fears that rescue personnel may be trapped under the debris.

The Chief Fire Officer confirmed that one firefighter has been buried under rubble following the partial collapse.

The identities of those killed and injured in the fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi have been confirmed.

According to rescue officials, the deceased have been identified as Kashif, Faraz, Aamir, Wazir and Furqan.

Those injured in the incident include Hamza, Abdullah, Ayan, Haseeb, Daniyal, Sadiq, Rahim, Usman, Fahad, Zain and Muhammad Hanif.

The Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the blaze had been classified as a third-degree fire, prompting the mobilisation of fire tenders from across the city. Fire officials said at least eight fire tenders, one snorkel and a water bowser were being used to control the fire.

Rescue authorities said some people fell ill due to smoke inhalation, while others were injured during panic and stampede-like conditions. Efforts to evacuate those trapped inside the building are ongoing.

Fire officials warned that the blaze continues to spread, engulfing multiple shops, and due to its intensity, it cannot be brought under control immediately.

Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed said the rescue operation is being closely monitored and all available resources are being provided. She added that steps are being taken to ensure adequate water supply at the site and to bring the fire under control as soon as possible.

She further said surveys of old buildings in Karachi are underway, while fire safety measures are being enforced in newly constructed buildings.

An emergency has been declared at Civil Hospital, and the Chief Minister of Sindh and the Mayor of Karachi are continuously monitoring the situation.

Police officials stated that Gul Plaza consists of four floors, housing more than 400 shops.A police contingent is conducting a joint operation with rescue teams, officials added.

They further noted that the crowd has been moved back, away from the building.

Rangers contingents have arrived at Gul Plaza on the instructions of the Director General (DG) Rangers Sindh, a spokesperson confirmed.

Sindh Rangers personnel have joined the rescue effort and are working alongside the fire brigade.

Rangers officers and personnel will remain on-site until the rescue operation is completed, the spokesperson added.