The judicial commission investigating the devastating fire at Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi recently received a detailed written response from Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed. This tragic incident, which occurred in January, resulted in the loss of numerous lives and left the city grappling with the aftermath of one of its deadliest commercial fires. Dr. Syed’s submission sheds light on the medical findings related to the victims and provides crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
In her report, Dr. Sumaiyya Syed clarified that the primary cause of death for those who perished in the fire was due to the combined effects of the blaze itself and suffocation caused by inhaling smoke. She noted that following the outbreak of the fire, eight injured individuals were immediately brought to medical facilities for treatment. However, the scale of the tragedy became apparent as a total of 73 bodies and human remains were transported to hospitals for examination.
Among these, only seven bodies were found intact, while the remains of 66 victims were severely burnt, complicating the postmortem procedures. Dr. Syed explained that the extent of the burning was so severe that conducting full autopsies on many of the remains was not possible. Despite these challenges, the evidence suggested that most of the victims were alive when the fire started, indicating they were trapped inside the building during the blaze.
Interestingly, the police surgeon pointed out that the complete bodies exhibited minor injuries that did not correspond with typical trauma caused by a stampede or structural collapse. This detail suggests that the victims’ injuries were likely a result of the fire and smoke exposure rather than physical crushing or falling debris. Furthermore, the discovery of bodies at different stages within the building indicated that many victims were stranded for extended periods before succumbing to the conditions inside.
To further understand the cause of death, samples were collected from the victims to test for the presence of toxic gases or chemical substances that could have contributed to the fatalities. However, Dr. Syed noted that the toxicology reports were still pending at the time of her submission. She confirmed that all medico-legal documentation related to the deceased had been handed over to the relevant authorities to aid the ongoing investigation.
The fire at Gul Plaza erupted on the night of January 17, rapidly engulfing the multi-story shopping complex located on M.A. Jinnah Road. The inferno raged uncontrollably for more than 32 hours before firefighters managed to bring it under control. This prolonged blaze exposed significant gaps in Karachi’s emergency response capabilities, raising serious questions about preparedness and safety measures in commercial buildings across the city.
As the judicial inquiry continues, Dr. Sumaiyya Syed’s comprehensive medical report plays a vital role in piecing together the sequence of events that led to this catastrophic loss of life. The findings not only highlight the tragic human cost but also emphasize the urgent need for improved fire safety regulations and emergency response protocols to prevent such disasters in the future.
