Medico-legal teams are striving to identify remains of at least 37 confirmed deceased despite intensity of burns
Smoke billows from Karachi’s Gul Plaza following a massive fire. Photo: INP
KARACHI:
At least 12 more people who perished in the Gul Plaza fire have been identified using geo-tagging, bringing the number of identified deceased to 42, confirmed the Sindh Police on Thursday.
A joint-investigation is currently underway by the Sindh Police forensic units and Punjab’s Urban Search and Rescue Force (USAR), using ARSEN Technology, which relies on the collection and examination of digital evidence from sites impacted by structural fires.
The remains of at least three members of a family, Umar Nabeel, his wife Dr Ayesha and their son Ali, all residents of North Nazimabad, were identified on Thursday. Besides, the remains of Khizar Ali, Haider Ali, Aamir Ali, Abu Bakar, Yaseen, Sadaqatullah, Yousaf Khan, Nematullah, and Abdullah were also identified using geo-tagging of mobile devices, and other personal belongings.
Read: Gul Plaza fire probe finds blaze started in flower shop, spread via AC ducts
A medico-legal team led by Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed is yet on site, collecting remains of the deceased, retrieving samples and sending them for forensic testing. Sindh’s Citizens Police Liason Committee is confirming names of the deceased, and assisting bereaved families in collecting remains for last rites.
Earlier, at least 23 of the tragedy’s confirmed 79 victims had been identified using DNA testing, another six through facial recognition, and one by their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
Read: FIR lodged over deadly Gul Plaza fire; structural safety review underway
On Wednesday, an inquiry committee led by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and comprising AIG Javed Alam Odho, released the final investigation report of the fire, confiming that flames ignited in a flower shop around 10.15pm, spread rapidly via air-conditioning ducts and evolved into an inferno.
The report pinned the origin of the blaze to an accident resulting from children playing with matchsticks. The Fire Department was first alerted by 10.26pm, South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso reached the site at 10.30pm, followed by the first fire tender at 10.37pm, and Rescue 1122 personnel at 10.53pm.
Most of the fatalities were traced to the mezzanine floor of the commercial plaza.
