KARACHI (Kashmir English): The death toll in Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire has risen over 60 after the remains of 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop on the mezzanine floor of the building.
Speaking to the media, South DIG Syed Asad Raza said that these people locked themselves in the crockery shop to save their lives. The remains have been transferred to Civil Hospital for identification.
He added that the rescue operation on the third floor was temporarily halted as the bodies were being removed first. Shopkeepers had indicated the presence of people on the mezzanine floor.
Human organs are continuing to be recovered from the debris of the plaza. Rescue officials said that it is not possible to say at this time how many people the organs found belong to.
Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya has urged victims’ families to submit DNA samples to help with the identification process.
She said that the only remains of 21 bodies from two shops were brought to the Civil Hospital, adding that we cannot yet confirm whether these are 21 bodies or remains of more individuals.
Meanwhile, District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said that the building would not be demolished as long as even one person remains missing.
Commissioner Karachi said that according to our data, 86 people are missing.
The official noted that location of 39 missing people were traced back to the shopping centre, while 17 bodies recovered from the site are yet to be identified. The DC said 11 bodies had been identified so far.
The port city’s biggest fire in over a decade started late on Saturday at Gul Plaza, which houses 1,200 shops in a multi-storey complex spread across an area larger than a football field.
