Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced to rebuild Gul Plaza building after a massive fire collapsed the iconic Karachi shopping mall.
Addressing a press briefing, the Sindh CM said that efforts are underway to recover the missing people from the Gul Plaza building.
He said that the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza fire will get Rs10 million from the government of Sindh.
Karachi Gul Plaza’s death toll climbs to 14
The death toll in the massive fire that erupted in Karachi’s infamous Gul Plaza has climbed to 14 with many still missing after 33 hours.
DIG South Asad Raza said that the dead bodies that were unable to be identified were shifted to Edhi Cold storage. These bodies will be identified later through DNA.
According to reports, over 150 people have been rescued from the fire. Authorities have also warned that the building could collapse.
A firefighter named Furqan, from Nazimabad Fire Office, was recovered from the rubble and brought to the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, but he couldn’t survive.
Teams from the Pakistan Navy also assisted in the rescue efforts. Firefighters are using water bowsers to control the blaze. Fire brigade officials have classified the fire as a third-degree fire.
Officials said the intensity of the fire increased due to the narrow passages and flammable materials inside the building.
Three fire brigade vehicles and 20 snorkels were used to fight the fire, and additional firefighting equipment has been requested from across the city.
Governor Sindh expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Navy for sending water bowsers.
Police officials said Gul Plaza four floors and more than a thousand shops. Rangers personnel assisted rescue teams in the operations.
PM Shehbaz orders special measures for Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire victims
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the fire incident at Gul Plaza in Karachi.
PM Office Media Wing said in a press release that the prime minister shared the grief of the families of those who lost their lives in the inferno.
The prime minister directed that all possible measures should be taken to ensure the protection of people’s lives and property.
He further asked that all possible assistance should be provided to the affected traders and other individuals, besides all relevant departments should work together in the rescue operation.
Karachi traders shut businesses to observe day of mourning
Karachi traders are observing a day of mourning on Monday over the tragic fire at Gul Plaza, which claimed several lives and caused massive property losses.
Chairman of the Karachi Traders’ Alliance, Atiq Mir, announced that traders will partially suspend business activities to express solidarity with the victims. He said markets will hold prayer ceremonies, while some traders may hoist black flags as a sign of grief.
Mir stated that the Gul Plaza fire caused an estimated loss of Rs3 billion and urged the government to take immediate steps to compensate affected traders and families of the victims. He said the business community decided to observe the mourning day to highlight the scale of the tragedy.
