Following the tragic Gul Plaza incident in Karachi, rescue teams are now recovering bones instead of bodies from the debris, highlighting the extreme intensity of the fire and the scale of destruction.
Senior Fire Officer Zafar Khan told the media that a fire had reignited in the basement of Gul Plaza but was swiftly brought under control by fire brigade personnel. He said that according to preliminary findings, the fire did not originate from a short circuit and may have been caused by the use of a matchstick or lighter, for which an initial report has been prepared.
Zafar Khan added that a diesel tank installed on the roof had not been removed earlier, and when efforts were made to remove it later, a fire broke out during the process, which was immediately extinguished. He further stated that due to the prolonged fire and rescue operation, the building’s structure has become severely weakened, and only the search phase now remains.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said that the search operation has entered its final stages. Speaking to the media outside Gul Plaza, he said efforts are being made to complete the operation today under the supervision of the Sindh Building Control Authority.
On the other hand, Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed told Geo News that post-mortem examinations of 67 bodies have been completed so far, and the identities of 16 victims have been confirmed. She said six bodies were identifiable through physical features.
According to Dr Samia Syed, eight bodies were identified through DNA testing, one through a national identity card, while another was identified through a locket found around the victim’s neck.
