Forensic teams work to identify remains of at least 37 confirmed deaths despite intensity of burns
Smoke billows from Karachi’s Gul Plaza following a massive fire. Photo: INP
KARACHI:
At least 12 more people who died in the Gul Plaza fire have been identified through geolocation, taking the number of identified deceased to 42, Sindh Police confirmed on Thursday.
A joint investigation is currently underway by the forensic units of the Sindh Police and the Punjab Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Force, using ARSEN technology, which relies on the collection and examination of digital evidence from sites affected by structural fires.
The remains of at least three members of a family, Umar Nabeel, his wife Dr Ayesha and their son Ali, all residents of North Nazimabad, were identified on Thursday. Additionally, the remains of Khizar Ali, Haider Ali, Aamir Ali, Abu Bakar, Yaseen, Sadaqatullah, Yousaf Khan, Nematullah and Abdullah were also identified through PK Press Club-tagging of mobile devices and other personal belongings.
Read: Gul Plaza fire probe finds fire started in flower shop and spread via air conditioning ducts
A forensic team led by Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed is still at the scene, collecting the remains of the deceased, recovering samples and sending them for forensic analysis. The Sindh Citizen Police Liaison Committee confirms the names of the deceased and helps the bereaved families collect the remains for the last rites.
Earlier, at least 23 of the 79 confirmed victims of the tragedy were identified through DNA testing, six others through facial recognition and one through their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).
Read: FIR lodged following fatal fire in Gul Plaza; structural safety review underway
On Wednesday, an inquiry committee headed by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and including AIG Javed Alam Odho, released the final investigation report into the fire, confirming that the flames ignited in a flower shop around 10:15 p.m., spread rapidly through the air-conditioning ducts and turned into an inferno.
The report attributes the cause of the fire to an accident caused by children playing with matches. The fire brigade was first alerted at 10:26 p.m., Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso arrived at the site at 10:30 p.m., followed by the first fire tender at 10:37 p.m. and 1122 rescue personnel at 10:53 p.m.
Most of the deaths were attributed to the mezzanine of the commercial plaza.
on the Gul Plaza fire was prepared by a committee comprising Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and Additional Inspector General Javed Alam Odho
