ISLAMABAD: After a devastating fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, authorities confirm the recovery of 71 bodies and human remains as the search operation continued for the eighth consecutive day.
On the previous night, small flare-ups were reported in different parts of the building; however, firefighters quickly brought them under control before they could spread further.
Senior fire officer Zafar Khan said that instead of bodies, only body parts are now being recovered from the debris, further complicating the identification process.
Fire department officials stated that the search operation is largely complete, though the removal of remaining debris may take another two to four days.
Officials said there were no effective fire safety arrangements inside the plaza, as only around 200 of the nearly 1,200 shops were equipped with fire extinguishers.
According to the Daily Dawn, sources familiar with the preliminary findings of an investigation committee said the fire originated from a shop selling artificial flowers on the ground floor, allegedly due to the negligence of the shop owner.
The sources said the shop owner had been traced and interviewed and told investigators that his two minor sons were playing inside the shop in his absence. While playing, they reportedly lit a match and threw it into the shop without extinguishing it before leaving. The presence of combustible materials allegedly caused the fire to spread rapidly.
Gul Plaza, spread over 8,124 square yards and housing 1,102 shops, was engulfed in flames on the night of the incident, resulting in extensive loss of life and property.
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