A firefighter dies in the line of duty and the death toll rises to six; President, PM call Sindh CM, offer condolences
Clouds of smoke billow from Karachi’s Gul Square following a massive fire. Photo: INP
KARACHI:
The fire that devastated Karachi’s famous Gul Plaza bazaar on Saturday could not be brought under control until Sunday night as it claimed the lives of six people, including a firefighter, and caused losses worth millions of rupees.
According to an official count, at least 59 people, including women who were inside the market when the fire broke out, were still missing, to the horror and anguish of their families.
The fire, which started around 10:15 pm on Saturday at the market located on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, quickly escalated into a third-degree fire, engulfing the entire ground plus three floors of the building.
Flames and smoke were still visible from the upper floors even on Sunday night even though fire brigade officials, assisted by Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and KPT personnel, had been making frantic efforts to extinguish the flames for more than 24 hours.
According to firefighters, extinguishing efforts were hampered by heavy smoke, structural damage and repeated flare-ups, but 80% of the fire was extinguished as of the filing of the report.
The fire destroyed nearly 40 per cent of the market, including around 1,200 shops and warehouses, and reduced goods worth millions of rupees to ashes.
Officials said water and foam were being used to control the fire. Due to concerns that parts of the building could collapse, firefighters carried out rescue efforts with extreme caution.
A tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning when a Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) firefighter was crushed under the rubble after a section of the plaza collapsed during rescue operations.
The firefighter was identified as Furqan Ali. After an arduous effort, his body was recovered from the rubble and transferred to the Civil Hospital for official procedures.
So far the authorities had confirmed six deaths, including that of the firefighter. Three died from asphyxiation and two were found charred in the building. More than 30 people were reportedly injured or affected by smoke inhalation and panic during the fire.
Following the arson incident, police and rangers surrounded the area to ensure that unauthorized persons stayed away from the scene.
A help desk set up by the Southern District Commissioner is collecting data on missing persons. Many families of those feared trapped in the rubble were present near the scene, praying for the safety of their loved ones, visibly distraught.
Firefighters said the first priority was to control the fire and start the cooling process, after which search and rescue operations will begin. They added that it is too early to estimate how long these operations will last.
Shop owners, victims’ families and the general public lamented the loss of their life savings and questioned responsibility for the tragedy as the incident became a top trend on social media.
Meanwhile, both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements, expressing their grief and deep sadness over the tragic incident and conveying their condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families.
The President directed the Sindh government and relevant authorities to provide immediate support to the affected people and traders. He also stressed that the injured should receive all possible medical treatment.
The prime minister also ordered that all measures be taken to ensure protection of life and property of people. He said all possible assistance should be provided to traders and other affected people, urging all relevant departments to work together in the rescue operation.
Zardari and Shehbaz paid tribute to martyred firefighter Furqan Ali.
Later, both the President and the Prime Minister also called Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on the phone.
In his call, Zardari asked CM Shah to assess the situation, stressing that all available resources must be deployed to ensure the success of rescue and firefighting operations.
The President also urged the Chief Minister to leave no effort undone to provide medical care to the injured and rehabilitation to the affected families.
He stressed the need to enforce fire safety laws and modernize commercial and residential building inspection systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In his telephonic conversation with Shah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered full federal support to the Sindh government.
He said he had already immediately taken notice of the fire and had directed federal agencies to fully assist the Sindh government. The prime minister emphasized that the federal government stands with the victims and the Sindh government in this time of grief.
He further stated that a coordinated and effective system is essential to quickly control fires in densely populated urban areas, and that the federal government is willing to assist the provincial government in establishing such a system to prevent future incidents.
