Investigation, Recovery Deepen in Karachi’s Gul Plaza Disaster

News Desk 

Karachi: Rescue and recovery operations at Karachi’s fire-hit Gul Plaza shopping centre entered their ninth consecutive day on Sunday, with federal investigators stepping in as authorities focused on identifying victims and completing searches inside the damaged structure.

A technical investigation team constituted by the federal government, including experts from NED University, visited the site to assess structural damage caused by the devastating fire earlier this month.

The team held meetings with district administration officials and inspected multiple sections of the building, marking areas where search operations had already been completed to minimize further risk.

To ensure safety, hazard indicators, including “H” markings, were placed at several points to warn of dangerous zones and the possibility of structural collapse. Officials said all activities inside the building are being carried out with extreme caution due to its fragile condition, prioritizing the safety of rescue workers and civilians.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/gul-plaza-fire-kills-60-exposes-deadly-safety-failures/

Meanwhile, human remains were recovered late Saturday night, officials confirmed. A Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) team is supervising the identification process to ensure swift confirmation of victims’ identities. Several sections of the shopping centre have already been thoroughly searched, while efforts to locate additional remains are ongoing.

Authorities said the death toll from the Gul Plaza tragedy has risen to 73, while 82 people are still reported missing. Rescue teams continued efforts to trace the missing as the Deputy Commissioner South indicated that search and recovery operations were expected to conclude later on Sunday.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/death-toll-rises-to-28-in-karachis-gul-plaza-fire-over-80-missing/

In a significant development, authorities confirmed the identification of four members of a single family from Karachi’s Delhi Colony who lost their lives in the fire. Six members of the family had gone missing after being trapped in the blaze.

 Following DNA matching, four victims — including 32-year-old Mohammad Saad, 35-year-old Misbah Parveen, 14-year-old Maryam, and 30-year-old Nimra — were identified, while the identification of two family members, including 30-year-old Irfan, remains pending.

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Officials said the bodies of the identified victims will be handed over to their relatives on Sunday, with funeral prayers scheduled for 3pm at the Eidgah Ground in Delhi Colony.

With the latest identifications, the total number of victims confirmed through DNA matching has reached 28. So far, 73 bodies and human remains have been recovered from the shopping centre, while search operations continue for the 82 missing persons.

Rescue authorities said 55 families have submitted DNA samples to aid the identification process. A fresh list of missing individuals — aged between 11 and 70 years — has also been released, containing names, photographs, and identity card details to assist families and the public in locating their loved ones. Input from Aaj News.