KARACHI: A fire that raged for 33 hours and spread over a large area in Karachi, claimed the lives of 26 persons. 18 bodies were identified, including that of a firefighter. The Saturday night incident at Gul Plaza completely crumbled parts of the building with weakened pillars making the structure precarious for full collapse.
The rescue operations encompassing searching and removing rubble have been in progress since the fire was first reported. The total number of injured persons has reached 22 due to the fire. The building has been turned into a heap of ashes and the officials have warned that the remaining part of the building can also collapse anytime. Firefighting operations were suspended due to the building’s vulnerable condition, and only debris clearance is taking place.
To ascertain the identity of the victims, DNA samples have been dispatched to the laboratory of Karachi University. Dr. Sameeha, a police surgeon at the Medico-Legal Center, has announced that the dead bodies will be recognized via DNA cross-matching and the sampling method from the deceased families has already started.
The police chief of Karachi, Azad Khan, said that the initial inquiry did not reveal any signs of a crime. However, he emphasized that if any leniency is found in the judicial process, then it would be an accomplice to the law. This situation has been a challenge to rescue teams consisting of the Pakistan Navy, Sindh Rangers, KMC, and local volunteers, as they have had to work under very hazardous conditions to save lives.
Hamayun Ahmed, the Chief Fire Officer, indicated that the blaze, which endangered most, had been extinguished and the cooling-down procedure had been initiated. In the areas where there is still more risk of collapse, only a small search operation is taking place to ensure that no victim lies under the debris.
The unfortunate event brought to light the issue of fire safety, leading to a commitment from the authorities to carry out an extensive investigation not only into the fire’s origin but also into the ways safety regulations might have been neglected.
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