Death toll reaches 31 in Gul Plaza fire, 86 missing

At least 31 people have lost their lives in the deadly fire at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, while 86 individuals are still missing as search and rescue operations continue for the fifth consecutive day, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Debris clearance operations are still being conducted by rescue teams at Gul Plaza, where the body parts of three more victims have been found and handed over to the Civil Hospital for identification. With the progress of the operation, it has been confirmed that the number of missing persons has now risen to 86, while another family has come to the deputy commissioner’s office to report a missing person.

On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has also announced rehabilitation and financial assistance for the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy. A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of the chief minister, which was attended by provincial ministers and the mayor of Karachi. The chief minister said that financial assistance for the families of those who lost their lives would begin tomorrow.

He expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident of the fire and said that the loss of life has severely affected many families. He also said that the traders and workers related to Gul Plaza have lost their means of livelihood, and he added that the provincial government is determined to rehabilitate all affected persons.

According to estimates, Gul Plaza houses around 1,200 shops, which means nearly 1,200 traders and workers have been impacted by the disaster. The chief minister instructed the concerned authorities to speed up the removal of debris to help with rescue efforts. He also asked for the preparation of a forensic report to identify the cause of the fire.