Gul Plaza tragedy: Hundreds feared dead, questions over investigation

By: Aziz Khatri

 Karachi: Even after several days of the horrific fire that broke out in Gul Plaza on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, the situation remains alarming, with serious questions about the number of deaths, the actual number of missing persons and the determination of responsibility.

According to eyewitnesses and social activists, hundreds of people are feared to have died in the tragedy, while the livelihood of about 1,200 families has been completely destroyed. The affected shopkeepers say that their savings, belongings and future have all been burnt to ashes.

According to sources, 30 human skulls and charred structures have been found in a well-known shop in Gul Plaza, “Dubai Crockery Shop”, which further illustrates the severity and horror of the tragedy. Rescue officials say that some of the bodies were completely burnt to ashes, making identification extremely difficult.

According to social organizations and volunteers, more human remains are likely to be found in the rubble of the affected building, but concerns are being expressed over the lack of proper measures for forensics or evidence preservation during the removal of debris.

Sources have alleged that on the night of the tragedy, darkness fell due to sudden electric shocks, which spread extreme fear among the people inside and made their evacuation impossible. The late arrival of the fire brigade and the delay in effectively starting the rescue operation are also being termed as serious negligence.

Eyewitnesses say that if timely decisions had been taken, emergency exits had been opened and walls and windows had been broken immediately, precious human lives could have been saved.

However, neither the final death toll has been revealed yet nor has any formal judicial inquiry been announced. Public circles say that despite such a huge tragedy, the failure to determine those responsible is a matter of concern.

Citizens and affected families have demanded:

A transparent and independent investigation into the tragedy should be conducted.

A list of missing persons should be released.

A forensic examination of the wreckage should be conducted.

Those responsible for negligence should be brought to justice.

Citizens say that the Gul Plaza tragedy is one of the worst accidents in the history of Karachi and if justice is not delivered in time, this incident will also be buried in the files like other tragedies.