Life returns to normal around Gul Plaza 18 days after inferno

Life has returned to normal around Gul Plaza as all shops have been reopened and Marston Road has been opened for traffic as well 18 days after the inferno, which had engulfed the plaza and in which dozens of people had lost their lives, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

However, passersby find it difficult to walk due to the presence of water and heavy machinery at the site.

The building remains sealed and security personnel remain deployed at the site.

On the other hand, of 73 people who lost their lives in the incident, the bodies of 69 have been identified, while the remains of four people could not be identified.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday announced that a judicial inquiry would be conducted into the Gul Plaza fire to ascertain the facts which led to the tragedy.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Memon said that in order to further probe the incident and to promote departmental transparency, the government’s sub-committee had decided that judicial inquiry should be conducted into the incident and in this regard a letter had bee sent to the Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice.

Memon added that the SHC chief justice would be requested to appoint a serving judge to review everything and decide on it.

Memon said that the meeting with the chief minister went on for four to five hours and important decisions were made in light of the commissioner and additional IG’s report.

Providing details of January 17 incident at Gul Plaza, Memon said there were between 2,000 and 2,500 people present in the building, including workers and visitors.

“As the fire broke out, many people escaped. Government employees managed to rescue them. As many as 80 people fell victim and were affected,” the minister added.

Senior Sindh minister said that Director Civil Defense South and Additional Controller Civil Defense had also been suspended.

Memon said KMC Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi was removed.

Memon said there was a delay in the supply of water. The Civil Defence Department did not take any effective action.

Memon said there was no proper fire extinguishing equipment in the building. 

Meanwhile, a 21-page inquiry report on Gul Plaza tragedy has been released.

According to the report, flower and gift shop caught fire in Gul Plaza when shop owner Naimatullah handed over the shop to an 11-year-old boy.

Artificial flowers caught fire after burning match box.

Fire quickly engulfed entire building due to inflammable materials. 

A shopkeeper witnessed the incident with his own eyes.

The watchman turned off the electricity five minutes after the fire.

The power outage caused panic among 2,500 people in the plaza. Unsafe electrical system also contributed to the fire.

Earlier, it was reported that the remains of 12 more people who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi had been identified, taking the total number of identified victims to 39.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the latest identifications were made with the help of mobile phone location data, and among those identified were three members of a family from North Nazimabad.

Officials said that the total number of identified victims had now reached 39, with identification carried out through proof of presence and mobile phone location data.

Authorities said the identified victims include three members of a family from North Nazimabad who had come to the area for shopping.

Using proof of presence, the remains of Umar Nabeel, his wife, Dr Ayesha, and their son, Ali, were identified.

Officials said that proof of presence also helped identify the remains of Khizar Ali, Haider Ali, Aamir Ali, Abu Bakar, Yasin, Sadaqatullah, Yousaf Khan, Nemat Ullah and Abdullah.

According to officials, after identification through proof of presence, the remains of some of the 12 newly identified victims have been handed over to their families.

They said that of the 39 victims identified so far, 20 were identified through DNA testing, six through facial recognition and one through a national identity card.

Authorities added that efforts are underway to identify the remaining victims of the tragedy.

Reporter: Usama Malik