KARACHI – In a series of startling testimonies before the Judicial Commission investigating the Gul Plaza tragedy, volunteers and drivers from Chhipa Welfare have alleged severe negligence and mismanagement during the rescue operations. According to statements recorded at the Sindh High Court, rescue workers claimed that several victims remained alive inside the burning building for over a day, pleading for help, but responders were barred from reaching them.
Delayed Response and Resource Shortages
Ayaz, a Chhipa driver who was among the first to arrive at the scene, provided a harrowing account of the chaos. He testified that his team reached the plaza within 15 minutes of the initial call at 10:05 AM. At that time, the fire was limited to the first floor. “People were alive for a day and a half, screaming ‘Save us!’ but we were not allowed to enter,” Ayaz told the commission. He further revealed that out of 26 gates, only two were open, and the fire brigade’s initial response was critically flawed. Only one fire tender arrived at first, and it quickly ran out of water. The second vehicle didn’t show up for another hour, by which time the fire had engulfed the entire plaza.
Barriers to Rescue
The volunteers highlighted several obstacles that hindered the rescue mission. Rescue workers claimed they were pushed back by officials who told them to stay away for their own safety. Many windows were fitted with iron grills, making it nearly impossible to retrieve bodies. Volunteers had to cut through these grills on the second and third floors. Drivers also reported that they were not provided with masks despite the suffocating smoke. The snorkel, vital for high-rise fires, reportedly did not arrive until after 12:00 PM.
Contradictory Scenes
Another volunteer, Raees, noted that while the situation was initially manageable, it spiraled out of control due to a lack of coordination and a breakdown in traffic management on M.A. Jinnah Road. “When I first arrived, the intensity wasn’t that high. By the time I returned from the hospital, the fire had intensified significantly, and the crowd had become uncontrollable,” he stated. The Judicial Commission continues to record statements to determine the exact cause of the fire and the subsequent failure of the emergency response systems that led to the loss of life.
