Gul Plaza blaze death toll climbs to 26, child among dead :
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Gul Plaza blaze death toll climbs to 26, child among dead.
Geo.tv , january 19, 2026
Rescuers enter building via cutting windows, demolishing walls; traders decry govt incompetence.
- Sindh govt spox admits water shortage due to Green Line work.
- Fire brigade officials say water bowsers stuck near Guru Mandir.
- Traders slam Sindh govt for incompetence, failure to rescue people.
KARACHI : Rescue workers recovered two more bodies, including that of a child, from Karachi's Gul Plaza on Monday, raising the death toll from the deadly inferno to 26.
The rescue operation on the first floor of the building has been completed, fire brigade officials said, adding that teams have entered the second floor for further work.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said that six bodies had so far been identified, with identification of others only possible after DNA tests.
He added that 69 have been reported missing so far.
DIG Raza stated that the last known location of 32 missing individuals was traced to Gul Plaza, adding that the situation around the building, including at Rimpa Plaza, was under control.
Fire brigade officials later confirmed that a blaze had reignited on the third floor, as rescue and firefighting operations continued.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site, where he was briefed by the District South deputy commissioner and the chief fire officer on the search and rescue operation.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Wahab confirmed that 18 bodies had so far been identified, while 65 people were still reported missing.
A large number of people gathered near Gul Plaza and attempted to enter the dilapidated building and protested against the incident while demanding justice for the victims.
The authorities have summoned additional police force to disperse the crowd and remove them from the vicinity, while announcements were also made warning the people that several building pillars had been weakened due to fire and could collapse at any time.
The fire started late on Saturday at the sprawling, multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre in the city's business district and burned for more than 24 hours, hampering rescue efforts in the densely packed area.
After more than 24 hours of firefighting, crews moved to cooling and debris-clearing, although concerns grew that more victims could still be trapped inside.
Firefighters said the lack of ventilation in the building, which houses more than 1,200 shops, caused thick smoke to fill the mall and slowed efforts to reach people trapped inside.
The inferno left parts of the building collapsed amid uproar over alleged shortcomings in the authorities' response, with rescuers making way into the building by cutting windows and demolishing walls with hammers.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirmed 14 deaths as the rescuers have said that five of the bodies recovered from the site are beyond identification.
Traders decry govt incompetence ,
- Sindh govt spox admits water shortage due to Green Line work.
- Fire brigade officials say water bowsers stuck near Guru Mandir.
- Traders slam Sindh govt for incompetence, failure to rescue people.
KARACHI : Rescue workers recovered two more bodies, including that of a child, from Karachi's Gul Plaza on Monday, raising the death toll from the deadly inferno to 26.
The rescue operation on the first floor of the building has been completed, fire brigade officials said, adding that teams have entered the second floor for further work.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said that six bodies had so far been identified, with identification of others only possible after DNA tests.
He added that 69 have been reported missing so far.
DIG Raza stated that the last known location of 32 missing individuals was traced to Gul Plaza, adding that the situation around the building, including at Rimpa Plaza, was under control.
Fire brigade officials later confirmed that a blaze had reignited on the third floor, as rescue and firefighting operations continued.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site, where he was briefed by the District South deputy commissioner and the chief fire officer on the search and rescue operation.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Wahab confirmed that 18 bodies had so far been identified, while 65 people were still reported missing.
A large number of people gathered near Gul Plaza and attempted to enter the dilapidated building and protested against the incident while demanding justice for the victims.
The authorities have summoned additional police force to disperse the crowd and remove them from the vicinity, while announcements were also made warning the people that several building pillars had been weakened due to fire and could collapse at any time.
The fire started late on Saturday at the sprawling, multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre in the city's business district and burned for more than 24 hours, hampering rescue efforts in the densely packed area.
After more than 24 hours of firefighting, crews moved to cooling and debris-clearing, although concerns grew that more victims could still be trapped inside.
Firefighters said the lack of ventilation in the building, which houses more than 1,200 shops, caused thick smoke to fill the mall and slowed efforts to reach people trapped inside.
The inferno left parts of the building collapsed amid uproar over alleged shortcomings in the authorities' response, with rescuers making way into the building by cutting windows and demolishing walls with hammers.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirmed 14 deaths as the rescuers have said that five of the bodies recovered from the site are beyond identification.
Traders decry govt incompetence ,
Speaking on Geo News' programme "Geo Pakistan" All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sindh chapter's President Jawaid Qureshi slammed the government for its incompetence and failure to rescue the people.
"The traders are bearing financial and human losses and they themselves are being blamed [for the incident]," Qureshi lamented.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the shopping mall on Sunday evening to review rescue and firefighting operations.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives and the economic impact of the incident. He said that around 58 to 60 people were still missing, adding that efforts were underway to rescue them.
The chief minister vowed that the government would compensate the affected people in a transparent manner.
Speaking on Geo Pakistan today, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed admitted the water shortage due to the Green Line BRT construction work on the MA Jinnah Road.
"The fire spread throughout Gul Plaza in an hour," the government spokesperson said while further highlighting that there are no emergency exits in buildings located in the Old City area — and a total of 200 buildings in the city.
She also pointed out that Rs5,000 was taken from shopkeepers for maintenance.
Apprising that Sindh CM Shah has summoned a meeting where all relevant issues will be discussed, Javed assured that the provincial government will take action against those responsible.
"The traders are bearing financial and human losses and they themselves are being blamed [for the incident]," Qureshi lamented.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the shopping mall on Sunday evening to review rescue and firefighting operations.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives and the economic impact of the incident. He said that around 58 to 60 people were still missing, adding that efforts were underway to rescue them.
The chief minister vowed that the government would compensate the affected people in a transparent manner.
Speaking on Geo Pakistan today, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed admitted the water shortage due to the Green Line BRT construction work on the MA Jinnah Road.
"The fire spread throughout Gul Plaza in an hour," the government spokesperson said while further highlighting that there are no emergency exits in buildings located in the Old City area — and a total of 200 buildings in the city.
She also pointed out that Rs5,000 was taken from shopkeepers for maintenance.
Apprising that Sindh CM Shah has summoned a meeting where all relevant issues will be discussed, Javed assured that the provincial government will take action against those responsible.
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