Islamabad, 18 January (H.S.): A ferocious blaze engulfed the Gul Plaza shopping complex on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, Sindh province's capital, early Sunday, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 20 severe burn injuries, as 14 fire tenders battled the raging flames.
Catastrophic Fire Rips Through Ground and First Floors
The conflagration erupted in the pre-dawn hours of January 18, rapidly consuming the ground and first floors of the bustling plaza, which houses more than 1,000 shops, according to Dunya News reports. Fire department officials noted the fire's intensity escalated relentlessly, enveloping additional stores and prompting reinforcements beyond the initial 14 engines dispatched to the scene.
Rescue operations deployed snorkels to evacuate trapped individuals, while authorities identified three victims as Aamir, Asif, and Faraz; the remaining two await identification amid the chaos.
Provincial Leadership Mobilizes Emergency Response
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjr issued immediate directives to the fire brigade and Rescue 1122, urging swift extinguishment of the blaze and clearance of access routes to the disaster site. Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab expressed profound grief over the loss of life and property, vowing comprehensive support for affected families and investigations into the outbreak's cause.
Over 20 survivors languish in critical condition from burns, as firefighting efforts persist into the morning without full containment.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
