Gul Plaza Karachi Fire Accident

What Happened :

A massive fire broke out late evening on 17 January 2026 at Gul Plaza, a large multi-storey shopping complex on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. The blaze raged for over 24–36 hours before being fully brought under control. The building housed around 1,200 shops selling clothing, carpets, plastics and household goods — highly flammable materials that helped the fire spread rapidly. The fire was so intense it caused partial collapses and made the structure unstable, slowing rescue efforts

⚰️ Casualties & Missing

The human toll has risen over several days as rescue teams continued search operations:Confirmed fatalities (latest official figures):At least 28 people have died so far, including a firefighter. Injuries:20+ people were injured, many with burns or from smoke inhalation.

Missing & feared dead:

Dozens remain missing, with figures ranging from 60 to 85+ people still unaccounted for as searches continue. Many of the missing were shopkeepers, employees, or customers trapped when exits were blocked or inaccessible.

🔍 Main Causes & Contributing Factors:

As of now, the official investigation into the exact cause is still ongoing, but key issues that made the tragedy worse include:

Suspected trigger:

Early official statements pointed to a likely electrical short circuit or malfunction, though authorities haven’t formally confirmed the cause.

Major contributing problems:

Many exits were locked or blocked, severely hampering escape routes. The building had poor ventilation, allowing smoke to fill corridors and trap people. Flammable stock (garments, plastics, carpets) fueled the fire’s rapid spread. Lack of proper fire safety systems — no sprinklers, alarms, or adequate emergency exits. Rescue efforts were criticized for delays and lack of equipment, complicating early response. Experts and analysts say these issues reflect broader and long-standing safety failures in building regulation and enforcement.

The Economic loss:

The financial damage from the fire has been enormous:The blaze destroyed nearly all of the 1,200 shops in the complex.Estimated total economic losses are around Rs 100 billion (~over ₹10,800,000,000).Many individual traders face losses of Rs 2 billion to Rs 2.5 billion each due to inventory and infrastructure destroyed.Government has announced Rs 10 million in compensation per deceased victim for families.

Broader Impact and Reactions:

Karachi’s Mayor and Sindh government have launched a probe into both the cause and emergency response.

Families of missing persons are undergoing DNA profiling to identify remains.The tragedy has sparked public outrage over poor enforcement of fire safety laws and emergency readiness.

This fire is being described as one of the deadliest in Karachi in years, exposing systemic shortcomings similar to past disasters.