Karachi Mall Fire Kills at least 61 people after a massive blaze ripped through Gul Shopping Plaza over the weekend. Officials said 30 victims died inside one mezzanine-floor shop. The fire destroyed a three-storey building with more than 1,200 shops.
The blaze began on January 17 in the basement of the complex in Saddar. Firefighters battled flames for nearly 36 hours. Rescue teams still search the debris. Authorities fear the death toll could cross 100. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said wedding season crowds raised the casualty count.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced compensation of 10 million rupees for each affected family. Rescue officials reported narrow roads and heavy crowds blocked emergency vehicles. Plastic materials inside the plaza caused repeated flare-ups.
Fire officers said ground-floor occupants escaped through multiple exits. Many people on upper floors could not find escape routes. This led to heavy losses.
Investigators suspect a short circuit triggered the blaze. Experts demand a deeper probe. Officials admitted the building failed to meet international safety standards.
The tragedy exposed weak emergency capacity. Karachi serves over 20 million residents with only 35 fire stations and 57 fire trucks. Experts warned that similar disasters remain likely.
