Gul Plaza search operation continues as discovery of 30 bodies in a shop takes death toll to 63

Rescue workers on Wednesday found 30 bodies in a shop on the mezzanine floor of Karachi's Gul Plaza, taking the death toll from the devastating fire to 63, officials confirmed.

Authorities said the bodies were found during an ongoing search operation inside the fire-ravaged commercial building, where teams are still looking for missing people.

The Karachi Police additional inspector general (AIG) confirmed that the bodies were found on the mezzanine level.

SSP City Arif Aziz said that bodies were found inside a shop named Dubai Crockery and they were burned beyond identification.

The deputy commissioner (south) stated that the recovery operation remains in progress, with all rescue teams continuing their work at the site. He said that remains of 20 to 25 people were found on the mezzanine floor and shopkeepers in the building were assisting the rescue personnel.

Officials said that rescue workers were not allowed to carry mobile phones inside the building and the decision was meant to make sure that no footage of charred bodies goes out. 

Rescue officials said that bodies are being found under the debris, making it difficult at this stage to determine the exact number of victims. All the bodies found so far have been transported to Civil Hospital Karachi for examination.

Karachi Police surgeon said that a detailed forensic analysis of these bodies was underway, but it was too early to say if these bodies were or were not of the people who have already been accounted for.

The search and recovery operation is ongoing.