Gul Plaza tragedy: rescue operation concludes on 10th day as death toll stands at 73

WEBD DESK: Authorities on Monday announced the completion of the search and rescue operation at Gul Plaza, as efforts to clear debris from the fire-ravaged commercial building continued on the tenth day of the tragedy.

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said the administration had wrapped up the search operation inside the building, while the removal of rubble using heavy machinery was still under way. He added that the affected Gul Plaza building was likely to be sealed later today.

According to the deputy commissioner, the death toll from the Gul Plaza fire has reached 73. Of the victims, 23 have so far been identified, including 17 through DNA testing. The process of identification through DNA analysis is continuing, he said.

The deputy commissioner noted that relatives of some missing persons had yet to make contact with authorities. He said that families of 13 out of 79 reported missing individuals had not provided DNA samples so far, which was delaying the identification process.

In cases where victims could not be identified, Khoso said deaths would be verified and officially determined through the relevant investigation committee and the courts.

Separately, Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan confirmed that the search operation inside Gul Plaza had been completed. He said all shops across every floor of the building had been thoroughly searched.

The fire, which broke out earlier this month, is among the deadliest building-related incidents in Karachi in recent years. Authorities say further legal and administrative action will follow once debris clearance and formal documentation are completed.

Calls for judicial inquiry

As Karachi continues to mourn the loss, MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar urged the Sindh Chief Minister to personally engage with the victims’ families and affected traders. Calling the incident a “national tragedy,” he said losses run into billions of rupees, and more than 100 precious lives may have been affected.

He rejected any inquiry led by the Karachi Commissioner and called for a judicial commission headed by Supreme Court judges to conduct an independent and transparent investigation.

As rescue operations, victim identification, and investigations continue, the Gul Plaza tragedy has once again raised serious questions about urban safety, regulatory enforcement, and accountability in Pakistan’s largest city