Dozens of body parts are found after Pakistan’s shopping plaza fire

Pakistan Plaza Fire Death Toll Expected to Climb Following Grim Discovery

The death toll from a devastating fire that ripped through a shopping complex in Pakistan’s largest city could rise dramatically following Wednesday’s discovery of human remains believed to belong to more than a dozen people, officials said.

Search and recovery teams reached a previously inaccessible shop in Karachi’s Gul Plaza where many people had sought shelter during the blaze that erupted on Saturday. This marked the first time rescuers were able to enter this particular area since the fire began.

Prior to this discovery, authorities had confirmed 29 fatalities from the fire. Dr. Summaiya Syed, the police surgeon overseeing the response, confirmed that Karachi’s main hospital received more than two dozen body parts on the fifth day of the ongoing search operation.

Government administrator Javed Nabi Khoso told reporters that preliminary assessments suggest the newly discovered remains could belong to between 15 and 25 individuals. “This is the first time such a large number of remains have been found in one location since the fire,” Khoso said, highlighting the severity of the tragedy.

Senior rescue official Abid Jamal Sheikh echoed this assessment, noting that while the body parts likely represent more than a dozen victims, forensic confirmation is still pending. The identification process may take considerable time given the condition of the remains and will likely involve DNA testing to provide families with closure.

As the search operation continues, the community began the painful process of laying victims to rest. On Wednesday, dozens of mourners gathered for the funeral of Shahroz Iqbal, a shop owner who perished in the blaze.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, though police have indicated that initial evidence points to an electrical short circuit as the probable trigger. The rapid spread of the flames through the multi-story commercial building has raised serious questions about adherence to safety protocols and building codes.

Karachi, Pakistan’s economic hub with a population exceeding 20 million, has experienced numerous deadly fires in recent years. Safety experts attribute these recurring tragedies to a combination of factors including inadequate safety measures, weak regulatory enforcement, and unauthorized construction practices that often bypass building codes.

In November 2023, another mall fire in the city claimed 10 lives and left 22 people injured. These incidents pale in comparison to one of Pakistan’s deadliest industrial disasters, which occurred in 2012 when a garment factory fire killed at least 260 workers, many of whom were trapped behind locked exits.

The Gul Plaza fire has reignited calls from safety advocates and civil society organizations for stricter enforcement of building codes and regular safety inspections of commercial establishments. Many buildings in Karachi’s bustling commercial districts were constructed decades ago without modern fire safety systems such as sprinklers, emergency exits, or proper ventilation.

Local business associations have expressed concerns about the economic impact of the fire on traders, many of whom lost their entire inventory with little or no insurance coverage. The plaza housed hundreds of small shops selling textiles, electronics, and household goods, representing the livelihoods of numerous families.

As recovery efforts continue, authorities face mounting pressure to improve emergency response capabilities and implement more effective fire prevention measures throughout the city’s commercial districts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.