- Fire incidents expose serious gaps in safety preparedness.
- So far, more than 20 fire incidents have been reported in February.
- The deadliest incident of the Gul Plaza fire occurred on January 17.
The memory of the deadly Gul Plaza fire still haunts Karachi, a stark reminder of how devastating fires can be in the city. But fire incidents continue unabated, exposing serious gaps in safety and emergency preparedness.
Alarmingly, in January alone Karachi reported 225 fire incidents, leaving destruction, injuries and loss of life in its wake. The news reported on Saturday.
The trend continued in February, with more than 20 fire incidents reported in the first five days alone, showing that the city remains at constant risk.
Authorities warn that unless stricter security measures are implemented and public awareness is raised, Karachi residents will continue to face daily threats of major and minor fires, a danger that cannot be ignored.
On Thursday alone, fire incidents were reported at six different places in different parts of the city. While no human casualties were reported in these incidents, two animals, a cow and a buffalo, suffered burns.
The deadliest incident occurred on January 17, when a fire in Gul Square killed 79 people, including women and children, and left at least 22 others injured, according to official figures.
Since then, no fire of similar magnitude has been reported. However, small-scale fires continue to break out daily, with up to five or six incidents sometimes reported in a single day.
Four more people, including a child and an elderly man, also lost their lives in different fires last month. In addition to the loss of life, many others are dealing with property damage and financial ruin, painting a grim picture of the persistent danger the fires pose to Karachi residents.
People often focus solely on the Gul Plaza fire, the lives lost in it, and the devastation it caused. But while these large-scale tragedies are rare, incidents of smaller fires continue to occur daily across the city. These are not just statistics. People lose their lives and suffer economic losses every day.
Among other notable incidents, a man died in Landhi on January 1 after being burned by a fire lit to keep warm during the cold weather. On January 26, in the Khokhrapar area of Malir, a fire broke out at a private school that was operating inside a house, causing the death of one minor and injuring another. Other students were rescued in time.
Another deadly fire broke out in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on January 28. Another fire incident in Orangi town also claimed one life. Several other people suffered injuries in incidents reported in Hawkesbay and Korangi, and near the Met Office area.
Data shows the Central District reported 30, the highest number of fires, in January. Saddar reported 18 incidents, while another 18 occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sohrab Goth-Gulistan-e-Mustafa fire station.
Nazimabad reported 13 incidents, SITE Area 11 and Lyari and Korangi nine each. Landhi reported three incidents, while Orangi Town and Shah Faisal Colony reported eight each. Manzoor Colony reported 14 incidents and areas covered by New Karachi Fire Station reported 13.
On Thursday, fires were reported at several places, including a plastic warehouse near Nauman Kanta on Sher Shah Akbar Road, where the fire flared up repeatedly due to Thermocol. Firefighters used heavy machinery under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Nida Saman to demolish walls and complete cooling operations.
Other incidents included a fire on the roof of a private bank near Sultan Hospital in Korangi No. 4, a fire in chemical-filled drums at a perfume factory in Mehran town, a fire in a cattle shed in Khurramabad area of Malir, a fire in a gymnasium in Federal Area B and a fire at a K-Electric junction near Fatima Tower in New Karachi Industrial Area. All fires were controlled without human casualties.
Authorities have expressed concern over the increasing frequency of fire incidents and have stressed the urgent need for stricter safety measures, regular inspections and greater public awareness to prevent further tragedies.
