59 missing as Karachi fire tragedy unfolds

The conflagration that engulfed Karachi’s famed Gul Plaza bazaar on Saturday could not be brought under control till late Sunday night as it consumed lives of six people, including a firefighter, and caused losses running into millions of rupees.

According to an official tally, at least 59 people — including women who were inside the market when the fire broke out — were still missing, to the horror and anguish of their families.

The blaze, which started at around 10:15 pm on Saturday at the market located at Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, quickly escalated to a third-degree fire, engulfing the entire ground plus three floors of the building.

Flames and smoke were still visible from the upper floors even late Sunday night despite the fact that fire brigade officials, assisted by the Pakistan Navy, the Pakistan Air Force, and KPT staff, had been making hectic efforts to extinguish the flame for over 24 hours.

According to fire brigade officials, the fire fighting efforts were hampered by heavy smoke, structural damage, and repeated flare-ups but 80% of the fire was extinguished till the filing of the report.

The fire destroyed nearly 40 percent of the market, including around 1,200 shops and warehouses, with merchandise worth millions of rupees reduced to ashes.

The officials said water and foam were being used to control the blaze. Due to concerns that parts of the building might collapse, firefighters carried out rescue activities with extreme caution.

A tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning when a Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) firefighter was crushed under debris after a section of the plaza collapsed during rescue operations.

The firefighter was identified as Furqan Ali. After a strenuous effort, his body was recovered from the rubble and taken to the Civil Hospital for official procedures.

So far the authorities had confirmed six deaths including that of the firefighter. Three had died of asphyxiation while two were found charred in the building. Over 30 people were reportedly injured or affected by smoke inhalation and panic during the fire.

After the incendiary incident, police and Rangers had surrounded the area to ensure that unauthorized individuals were kept away from the site.

A help desk established by the South District Commissioner is collecting data on missing persons. Many families of those feared trapped in the debris were present near the site, praying for the safety of their loved ones — visibly distraught.

Fire brigade officials said that the first priority was to control the fire and begin the cooling process, after which search and rescue operations will commence. They added that it is too early to estimate how long these operations will take.

Shop owners, victims’ families and the general public lamented that lifetimes of savings were lost and questioned accountability for the tragedy as the incident became the top trend on social media.

Meanwhile, both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements, expressing their grief and deep sorrow over the tragic incident and conveying their condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.

The president directed the Sindh government and the relevant authorities to provide immediate support to the affected people and traders. He also stressed that the injured should be provided with all possible medical treatment.

The PM also directed that all measures should be taken to ensure the protection of people’s lives and property. He said that all possible assistance should be provided to the affected traders and other individuals, urging all relevant departments to work together in the rescue operation.

Zardari and Shehbaz both paid tribute to the martyred firefighter Furqan Ali.

Later, both the president and the PM also telephoned Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

In his call, Zardari asked CM Shah to assess the situation, stressing that all available resources must be deployed to ensure the success of rescue and firefighting operations.

The president also urged the Chief Minister to leave no effort unmade in providing medical care for the injured and rehabilitation for affected families.

He emphasized the need to enforce fire safety laws and modernize inspection systems for commercial and residential buildings to prevent such tragedies in the future.

In his telephonic conversation with Shah, PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives as he offered full federal support to the Sindh government.

He said he had already taken immediate notice of the fire and instructed federal agencies to fully assist the Sindh government. The PM emphasized that the federal government stands with the victims and the Sindh government in this hour of grief.

He further stated that a coordinated and effective system is essential to bring fires under control quickly in densely populated urban areas, and the federal government is ready to assist the provincial government in establishing such a system to prevent future incidents.