The Karachi Municipal Corporation’s Chief Fire Officer, Hameed Khan, said that the rescue operation at the site of the devastating fire at the Gul Plaza building may take up to 15 days to complete. In a media briefing, Khan stated that during the removal of debris from the affected building, the flames have erupted again. Dr. Samia, a police surgeon in Karachi, confirmed that 20 bodies recovered from the building so far are still unidentified. She added that the area is too large to conduct a comprehensive search and rescue operation within a short span of time.
Khan explained that the rescue operation has been ongoing for the past three days, and a significant number of vehicles have been recovered from the rooftop parking area. He also stated that the second floor of the building has extremely high temperatures, making it difficult for rescue teams to access the area. Dr. Samia emphasized that the rescue operation is challenging due to the massive size of the building and the number of people trapped inside.
The Chief Fire Officer also pointed out that Karachi has a severe shortage of fire tenders, with only a few vehicles available to respond to emergencies. He claimed that the city requires thousands of fire tenders, and they are currently operating with a limited number of vehicles.
The police investigation has revealed that the fire was likely started by unknown individuals who had tied up the staff of a pump company with ropes before setting the building ablaze. Eight people were injured in the incident, while 48 bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. A total of 86 people are still missing, and the rescue operation is ongoing to recover possible bodies from under the debris.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning of rain showers in Karachi from afternoon to evening. In other news, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority has reported that several fake websites were operating in the city, collecting online payments from citizens under the pretext of the E-Challan system.
In a separate incident, a woman was attacked by a pet lion in the Bhikhiwind area of Lahore, leaving her with serious injuries. The victim, an 8-year-old girl, was rushed to the hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.
The Supreme Court Bar Association, the Pakistan Bar Council, and other stakeholders have expressed their concerns over the proposed amendments to Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution. A bill to amend these articles has been tabled in the National Assembly, proposing a 10-year imprisonment sentence and a fine of Rs. 5 million for those convicted of driving under the influence and causing death.
In a police encounter in Karachi, a suspect was killed, and a pistol, a motorcycle, and other equipment were recovered from him. The incident has sparked concerns over the safety of citizens in the city.
Separately, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has announced a compensation package for the families of the victims of the fire at the Gul Plaza building. The package includes a one-time grant of Rs. 1 million to each family and a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000 for the next six months.
In a related development, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader, Mohammad Aslam Ghan, has tabled a bill in the National Assembly to amend Article 51 of the Constitution, proposing a 10-year imprisonment sentence and a fine of Rs. 5 million for those convicted of driving under the influence and causing death.
The rescue operation at the site of the devastating fire at the Gul Plaza building may take up to 15 days to complete, said the Karachi Municipal Corporation’s Chief Fire Officer, Hameed Khan.
