The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) recently submitted a detailed response to the judicial commission investigating the catastrophic fire that engulfed the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi. In his comprehensive statement, the fire official emphasized that the tragic loss of lives was primarily due to several critical safety failures, including locked and inaccessible exits as well as the absence of a functioning fire alarm system within the building. These factors severely hampered evacuation efforts and contributed to the devastating human toll.
the CFO, the fire brigade responded swiftly, with the first fire engine departing the station within one minute of receiving the emergency call. He noted that this rapid deployment aligns with international firefighting standards, underscoring the readiness of the emergency services. However, despite this prompt response, the operation faced significant obstacles once the team arrived at the scene. The presence of heavy traffic congestion and large crowds gathered around Gul Plaza created substantial barriers, delaying the movement of firefighting vehicles and personnel.
Upon reaching the location, firefighters were met with a building already engulfed in thick smoke and intense flames. The CFO described the fire as spreading rapidly, fueled by the building’s inadequate fire safety measures. Combustible materials stored inside, combined with the presence of false ceilings, accelerated the blaze’s expansion, making containment extremely challenging. Furthermore, the structure’s internal layout lacked clear emergency exit signs, emergency lighting, and trained staff to guide occupants to safety, all of which compounded the chaos during evacuation.
One of the most alarming revelations was that out of the 13 gates and exits in the shopping complex, several were either locked, closed, or otherwise unusable at the time of the fire. This created a deadly bottleneck for those trying to escape. The CFO also highlighted the absence of designated internal pathways or safe staircases for firefighters to navigate the premises effectively. Adding to the difficulty, iron grills installed on corridors and windows obstructed access to the interior, forcing the firefighting efforts to be conducted primarily from outside the building.
Despite these challenges, the fire brigade managed to rescue several individuals trapped inside during their operations. However, the CFO pointed out that they were not provided with accurate information regarding the number of people inside or their specific locations, which hindered rescue efforts. Another critical issue was the lack of emergency lighting; the building’s electricity was already cut off when the first fire engine arrived, and the fire brigade had not instructed the power utility to disconnect electricity, which could have facilitated safer evacuation. The absence of emergency lights left many stranded individuals in complete darkness, further complicating escape attempts.
The initial water supply for firefighting came from the central fire station, but water tankers faced difficulties reaching the site due to traffic congestion. Only after the area was cleared of vehicles and crowds could a consistent water supply be maintained, allowing firefighters to combat the blaze more effectively. Tragically, the fire claimed the life of firefighter Furqan, who was killed when a portion of the building collapsed. The CFO noted that the structural integrity of Gul Plaza had been compromised following this incident, adding another layer of danger for the rescue teams.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, the CFO stressed that a thorough forensic analysis is necessary to determine the origin of the blaze conclusively. In a previous session of the judicial inquiry, Director General Rescue 1122, Wajid Sibghatullah, criticized the decision to shut down the mall’s electricity during the emergency, calling it a major error that may have cost lives. He also mentioned that a delayed report to Rescue 1122 about the fire further hampered timely intervention.
The fire at Gul Plaza erupted late on the night of January 17, rapidly consuming the commercial building located on M.A. Jinnah Road. The inferno raged for more than 32 hours before firefighters could bring it under control, exposing significant shortcomings in Karachi’s emergency response infrastructure. This tragic event has sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations and improved coordination among emergency services to prevent such disasters in the future.
