KARACHI: A final inquiry report into the deadly Gul Plaza fire has concluded that the blaze was accidentally started by a child, according to findings compiled by a high-level committee.
The fire erupted at the Gul Plaza shopping centre on the night of January 17, causing extensive loss of life and damage to the building. The report states that at least 79 people died, with most fatalities recorded on the mezzanine floor.
In the aftermath, families of the victims were seen collecting remains of their relatives in shopping bags as rescue and recovery efforts continued.
The inquiry was conducted by a committee comprising the Karachi Commissioner and Karachi police chief Additional Inspector General Azad Khan. The report documents the cause of the fire, the response of firefighting and rescue agencies, and accounts gathered from victims, eyewitnesses, and officials involved in rescue operations.
According to the findings, the fire originated at a flower shop on the ground floor, where a child inadvertently triggered the blaze. It spread rapidly through air-conditioning ducts, reaching upper floors within minutes.
The report notes that the fire started around 10:15 pm, while the fire brigade was alerted at 10:26 pm. The first fire tender reached the site at 10:37 pm. The Deputy Commissioner South arrived at 10:30 pm, and Rescue 1122 teams reached the location at 10:53 pm.
Sources said the final report will be formally submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah by the Karachi Commissioner. The findings point to major safety violations and stress the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in commercial buildings.
The search operation has been completed and the building has been sealed.
The report states that the last recovered body was identified through DNA testing, though the victim’s identity could not be confirmed. It adds that 80 people were reported missing after the incident. DNA samples were collected from 69 families, while heirs of 13 victims have yet to submit samples.
