Karachi (nytoday) – A detailed 21-page inquiry report into the tragic Gul Plaza fire has been made public, revealing alarming facts and widespread negligence that contributed to the disaster.
According to the findings, the fire originated in a flower and gift shop located inside the plaza. The shop owner, Naimatullah, had left the premises under the supervision of an 11-year-old child. The blaze reportedly started when a matchstick ignited artificial flowers, which were highly flammable. Due to the presence of combustible materials, the fire spread rapidly throughout the building. A worker from a nearby shop witnessed the incident firsthand, while the inquiry termed leaving young children unattended in the shop as gross negligence.
The report further stated that the floor watchman switched off the electricity approximately five minutes after the fire broke out. This sudden power shutdown caused panic among nearly 2,500 people present inside the plaza at the time. Investigators also highlighted that the unsafe electrical system significantly intensified the fire.
At the time of the incident, three to four main gates on the ground floor were open. However, thick smoke quickly filled the lower floors, and road closures around the area trapped many people inside shops. Between 10:50 pm and 10:55 pm, the fire escalated into a third-degree blaze, eventually engulfing the entire building. Available firefighting equipment proved ineffective against the intensity of the flames.
The inquiry also revealed serious delays in rescue operations. The first water tanker reached the site at 11:53 pm, while uninterrupted water supply could not be ensured even after midnight. Firefighters lacked metal cutters to free those trapped on the mezzanine floor, delaying rescue efforts due to iron gratings. Moreover, the firefighting staff did not have adequate equipment or protective gear.
Although fire audits had been conducted in the past, the report noted that there was no proper follow-up to ensure implementation of safety measures. Reports prepared by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Civil Defence, and district administration remained confined to official files. Shockingly, even the building’s internal corridors were not clearly identified, further complicating evacuation and rescue efforts.