The report of the government-formed committee investigating the Gul Plaza tragedy has been released, revealing the causes of the fire along with serious lapses by multiple authorities. According to the report, the fire broke out on January 17 at shop number 193 on the ground floor of Gul Plaza.
The report stated that the shop owner had left his 11-year-old son at the shop. The child reportedly lit a matchstick, which fell on artificial flowers, triggering the fire. Due to the presence of highly flammable material, the fire spread rapidly throughout the building.
According to the findings, unsafe electrical wiring, air conditioners, and exposed pipelines significantly worsened the situation. The report noted a major delay in supplying water to fire tenders, with the first water bowser arriving at 11:53 pm, while continuous water supply only began after midnight.
The report further revealed that proper tools to cut iron rods for evacuating trapped people were not available. Firefighters lacked adequate equipment, safety gear, and the required training and skills, which severely hampered rescue operations.
It was also disclosed that police measures to control crowds and cordon off the area were ineffective, contributing to the chaos during the incident.
The committee confirmed that emergency exits inside the building were either blocked or encroached upon. The report stated that the width of staircases had been reduced, while the number of doors was decreased from 18 to 13, creating serious obstacles during emergency evacuation.
The report recommended an immediate audit of all high-risk buildings and advised imposing fines, partial closures, or complete sealing of premises found in violation of safety regulations.
It is worth recalling that 79 people lost their lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy. So far, 39 victims have been identified, including 20 through DNA testing, six through facial recognition, and one through a national identity card.
