A firefighter dies in the line of duty while the death toll rises to six; President, PM call on Sindh CM and offer condolences
Smoke billows from Karachi’s Gul Plaza following a massive fire. Photo: INP
KARACHI:
The fire that ravaged Karachi’s famous Gul Plaza bazaar on Saturday could not be brought under control until late Sunday night as it claimed the lives of six people, including a firefighter, and caused losses running into millions of rupees.
According to an official count, at least 59 people, including women who were inside the market when the fire broke out, were still missing, much to the dismay of their families.
The fire, which broke out around 10:15 p.m. on Saturday at the market located on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, quickly grew into a third-degree fire, engulfing the entire ground floor as well as three floors of the building.
Flames and smoke were still visible from the upper floors even late Sunday night, despite the fact that firefighters, assisted by the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and KPT personnel, had been making strenuous efforts to douse the flame for over 24 hours.
According to firefighters, firefighting efforts were hampered by heavy smoke, structural damage and repeated fires, but 80 percent of the fire was extinguished until the report was filed.
The fire destroyed nearly 40 percent of the market, including around 1,200 shops and warehouses, with goods worth millions of rupees reduced to ashes.
Authorities said water and foam were used to bring the fire under control. Fearing that parts of the building might collapse, firefighters carried out the rescue operations with extreme caution.
A tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning when a firefighter of the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) was crushed under debris after a part of the square collapsed during rescue operations.
The firefighter was identified as Furqan Ali. After a strenuous effort, his body was recovered from the rubble and taken to the civil hospital for official procedures.
So far, authorities have confirmed six deaths, including that of the firefighter. Three died of asphyxiation while two were found burned in the building. More than 30 people were reported injured or affected by smoke inhalation and panic during the fire.
After the incendiary incident, police and Rangers had cordoned off the area to ensure unauthorized people were kept away from the site.
A helpline established by the Southern District Commissioner collects data on missing persons. Many families of those feared trapped in the rubble were present near the site, praying for the safety of their loved ones – visibly distraught.
Fire officials said the first priority was to bring the fire under control and begin the cooling process, after which search and rescue operations would begin. They added that it is too early to estimate the duration of these operations.
Shop owners, victims’ families and the general public lamented that life savings had been lost and questioned responsibility for the tragedy as the incident became the top trend on social media.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements, expressing their grief and deep sadness over the tragic incident and conveying their condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families.
The President directed the Sindh government and relevant authorities to provide immediate support to the affected people and traders. He also stressed that the injured should receive all possible medical care.
The Prime Minister also directed that all measures should be taken to ensure protection of people’s lives and property. He said all possible assistance should be provided to the affected traders and others, urging all relevant departments to work together in the rescue operation.
Both Zardari and Shehbaz paid tribute to martyred firefighter Furqan Ali.
Later, the President and the Prime Minister also called Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
In his appeal, Zardari asked CM Shah to assess the situation, emphasizing that all available resources must be deployed to ensure the success of the rescue and firefighting operations.
The President also urged the Chief Minister to leave no stone unturned in providing medical care to the injured and rehabilitation to the affected families.
He stressed the need to enforce fire safety laws and modernize commercial and residential building inspection systems to avoid such tragedies in the future.
In his telephonic conversation with Shah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sadness over the loss of lives as he extended full federal support to the Sindh government.
He said he already immediately noticed the fire and requested federal agencies to fully assist the Sindh government. The Prime Minister stressed that the federal government stood with the victims and the Sindh government in this hour of mourning.
He further said that a coordinated and effective system is essential to quickly bring fires under control in densely populated urban areas, and the federal government is ready to assist the provincial government in establishing such a system to prevent future incidents.
