KARACHI – The final investigative report on the Gul Plaza tragedy, which claimed 79 lives, has been completed by a high-level committee led by the Commissioner of Karachi and the Additional IG. The findings are set to be presented to the Chief Minister of Sindh today.
Key Findings of the Report
According to sources, the investigation has pinpointed the origin of the fire and the timeline of the rescue operations. The report incorporates data from various departments including the Fire Brigade, SBCA, Rescue 1122, and the Water Corporation.
The report reveals that the fire started when children present at a flower shop on the ground floor were playing with a matchstick or a lighter. This ignited a fire that quickly spiraled out of control and engulfed the entire plaza. The intensity of the blaze increased as it spread rapidly through the Air Conditioning (AC) ducts, which led to the fire becoming uncontrollable. Out of the 79 confirmed deaths, the majority of fatalities occurred on the Mezzanine Floor of the building.
Response Timeline
The report highlights the timeline of the incident, noting that the fire broke out at 10:15 PM, while the Fire Brigade was informed at 10:26 PM. Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khoso, arrived at the scene at 10:30 PM. The first fire tender reached the location at 10:37 PM, approximately 11 minutes after the call, followed by Rescue 1122 teams at 10:53 PM.
Unanswered Questions
While the cause has been identified, the report reportedly remains silent on certain critical aspects. Sources indicate that the findings do not yet explicitly detail whose negligence allowed such a massive scale of destruction or the specific reasons for the delay in rescuing those trapped inside. The full report is expected to be made public once it is formally submitted to the Chief Minister.
