Gul Plaza fire: Shopkeepers who re-entered to save others didn’t return
KARACHI: The human toll of the Gul Plaza fire continues to deepen as heartbreaking accounts emerge of shopkeepers who safely exited the burning building but re-entered in a desperate attempt to rescue others — and never returned.
The devastating blaze at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road has claimed at least 26 lives so far, while 75 people remain missing, making it one of the deadliest commercial market fires in Karachi’s history. Rescue officials fear the death toll may rise further as search operations continue inside the structurally unsafe building.
According to a member of Gul Plaza’s management committee, the fire erupted due to a short circuit at a flower shop near Gate No. 3. Within just 10 minutes, flames engulfed the entire ground floor and rapidly spread towards the mezzanine level, leaving dozens trapped inside.
The committee member said the fire broke out at around 10:10pm, but the first fire brigade vehicle arrived at the scene at approximately 11:15pm. Firefighting efforts were severely hampered as the initial fire tender reportedly ran out of water within minutes, while repeated shortages of water and diesel disrupted rescue operations throughout the night.
Despite the growing danger, several shopkeepers who had managed to escape the inferno returned inside the smoke-filled plaza to rescue others trapped on the mezzanine floor. Rescue sources said these individuals succeeded in evacuating between 100 and 250 people, but many of the rescuers themselves failed to come back out.
Rescue workers confirmed that bodies recovered from the site were burned beyond recognition, making identification extremely difficult. DNA testing is expected to be used to identify several victims. Officials said cooling operations would continue for another 24 to 36 hours before deeper search efforts could resume safely.
The Gul Plaza fire, which broke out on January 17 around 10:00pm, was finally brought under control after more than 34 hours. However, authorities have declared the building structurally unsafe, citing severe damage and the risk of further collapse.
Rescue teams, backed by the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and civil administration, remain engaged in cautious search and recovery operations as engineers continue assessing the stability of the damaged structure.
Adding to the tragedy, three teenage boys from Karachi’s Lyari area who worked at Gul Plaza remain missing. The missing youths have been identified as Hamza, 13, Hassam, 15, and Abdus Samad, 16, residents of Lyari’s Cheel Chowk area.
The disappearance of Abdus Samad has left his family shattered. His father, Muhammad Abdul Rehman, collapsed at the scene after being overwhelmed by grief while searching for his son among the missing.
Families from Lyari staged a strong protest following the Gul Plaza fire, holding photographs of their missing children and chanting slogans against authorities. The protesters demanded immediate answers, faster rescue efforts, and accountability over the handling of the tragic incident.
As Karachi mourns the loss of lives and heroic rescuers who entered the flames to save others, officials say search operations will continue until all missing persons are accounted for.
