Karachi, Jan 29: Authorities in Pakistan’s largest city have ended the search and rescue operation at the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza shopping mall, with the confirmed death toll rising to 73, officials said after days of painstaking recovery work among charred rubble.The devastating fire broke out on January 17 at the multi-story Gul Plaza complex in the Saddar area, engulfing the building and trapping many inside. Emergency teams battled the inferno for hours amid dense smoke and unstable debris before bringing it under control.
Rescue crews and forensic teams worked for nine days, painstakingly locating and retrieving victims’ remains. The operation was formally called off as authorities sealed the ruined structure and shifted focus to investigation, identification and recovery efforts.
Families and communities have been grappling with the aftermath, with dozens of relatives submitting DNA samples to help identify those lost in the disaster. Officials reported that a portion of the recovered bodies have been identified through DNA testing, even as some remain unclaimed or unidentified.
The tragedy has sparked concern over fire safety standards in crowded commercial buildings and prompted authorities to review safety measures and accountability in the aftermath of one of Karachi’s deadliest recent fires.