Muhammad Imran, 56, a crockery shop owner who survived, looks on following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi on January 23. Photo: Reuters
KARACHI:
The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi has risen to 73, as rescue teams continue to recover human remains from the building. So far, 23 victims have been identified, with 16 confirmed through DNA testing on Sunday.
According to Amir Hassan, in charge of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee Identification Project, another body has been identified through DNA. The individual has been named Abdul Haseeb. The remains of two individuals were found late last night, Hassan said, bringing the total death toll from the incident to 73.
Recovery teams continue to search through the debris following the fire, which engulfed the commercial complex in Karachi last week. Rescue and forensic teams have been meticulously combing the site, with DNA analysis playing a key role in confirming the identities of those who perished in the blaze.
Meanwhile, funeral prayers for four members of the same family, who were killed in the fire, were offered at the Eidgah Ground in Delhi Colony, Karachi. A large number of relatives and local residents attended the prayers. MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Monem Zafar Khan, PPP leader Najmi Alam, and other political figures were also present.
According to Edhi authorities, the four deceased included two sisters and a brother. Six members of the same family had lost their lives in the tragedy, and the identities of the remaining two victims, including a woman, are yet to be confirmed. The family had reportedly visited Gul Plaza for shopping when the fire broke out.
Technical team from Lahore visited Gul Plaza
A technical team from Lahore arrived at Karachi’s Gul Plaza on Sunday to conduct investigations as the rescue operation entered its eighth day. Police and district administration officials accompanied the investigative team, which includes forensic experts, during inspections of various locations within the plaza.
Marking is being carried out at locations where the search process has been completed, the urban search team said. The letter “H” has been marked at various points, indicating danger and the risk of the building collapsing, according to the team.
Read: FIR lodged over deadly Gul Plaza fire; structural safety review underwayMeanwhile,
A day earlier, police registered a criminal case over the fire, citing negligence and lack of safety measures. An FIR was registered under Sections 322, 337-H(I), 436 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code, according to police. The case was filed with the government as the complainant and the names of unknown persons, as the investigation report is yet to be completed.
The FIR states that severe negligence and carelessness were shown at Gul Plaza, where no safety measures were in place. It says the lights were switched off during the fire, creating difficulties for people inside the building, while several gates were found closed.
Read More: Gul Plaza inferno came after ignored warnings, delayed response
After the FIR, authorities sealed the building. Meanwhile, a technical investigation team formed by the Sindh government, comprising experts from NED University, inspected Gul Plaza. The team examined the structure of the building, particularly its pillars, to assess its safety.
The team is to submit a report to the Sindh government and the district administration, detailing how long the building can remain standing, whether it requires immediate demolition, or if only certain parts are unsafe.
