A fire has once again erupted in the basement of the fire-affected Gul Plaza in Karachi.
Authorities have expressed suspicion that the blaze was ignited by a drug addict, who is now in custody.
Flames have reignited in the debris of Gul Plaza, where bystanders arrested a drug addict and turned him over to the police.
The individual claimed that the fire began in the basement while he was located on an upper floor.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan reported that information regarding smoke coming from the building was received at 5:45 PM.
Fire brigade teams arrived immediately and began firefighting efforts.
A significant portion of the basement and several shops had remained intact during the previous fire incident.
It is believed that the fire originated in those shops and from the scrap and waste materials present inside.
Additional Deputy Commissioner South Amir Fazal stated that six fire tenders from KMC and one snorkel were deployed for the operation.
Firefighters also faced challenges entering the premises due to heavy smoke, necessitating the use of machinery to clear the smoke.
Businesses resume after Gul Plaza tragedy
In February, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) arranged 300 temporary shops at the Polo Ground for traders affected by the recent Gul Plaza tragedy, aiming to help them resume business activities during the Holy month of Ramzan.
A temporary marketplace was also established by installing tents to help shopkeepers who were displaced due to the incident.
Read more: Relief for Gul Plaza tragedy affectees as businesses restart
