Fire could have been contained sooner, but delayed response and limited resources from the authorities allowed the blaze to rage unchecked for hours.
Traders and area residents said that timely action from the Saddar Fire Station, other civic bodies, and local officials could have saved lives and livelihoods, yet the firefighting operation only picked up in full force early Sunday.
Shopkeepers at the site told Dawn that if the firefighting team had arrived last night with full force and resources, the scene here would probably look very different.
One shopkeeper pointed out that the Saddar Fire Station is only a few minutes away, yet no timely action was taken.
Traders say fire could have been contained sooner, but limited resources and delayed action by authorities allowed it to spread unchecked. Despite the lapse of more than 24 hours, the fire at Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi has yet to be fully extinguished. The blaze has so far claimed six lives, injured more than 30 people, and left 56 others missing.
Chief Fire Officer KMC Humayun Khan said the fire has been brought under control by up to 80 percent, while flames at several points of the building have subsided. Following the development, Fire and Rescue volunteers have begun entering the building to carry out operations.
However, due to the structurally fragile condition of the building, precautionary measures are being strictly observed.
Videos released by Rescue 1122 on Sunday night showed rescue personnel conducting search operations at certain locations inside the building with the help of torches. The search process, however, faced difficulties because of heavy smoke inside the premises.
Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Additional Director General Farhan Qaiser said once the fire is fully brought under control, the SBCA team will conduct a detailed inspection of the structure, after which a final assessment will be made regarding whether the building is structurally unsafe or not.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also visited the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza, where he was met with protests by citizens who chanted slogans upon his arrival.
Speaking to the media, Wahab said that while some people raised slogans, he understood the public’s pain and distress. He added that he could not give a definite timeframe for when the fire would be fully brought under control or when the cooling process would be completed
A local resident said they
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