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Gul Plaza Fire Death Toll Rises to 21; Dozens Missing as Sindh CM Announces Rs10m Compensation
Death toll from Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire has climbed to 21, with over 60 still missing. Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah announces Rs10m compensation per victim and orders inquiry.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-19
Gul Plaza Fire Death Toll Rises to 21; Dozens Missing as Sindh CM Announces Rs10m Compensation

As the death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza shopping mall climbed to 21 on Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said dozens of people were still reported missing and announced Rs10 million compensation for the family of each deceased victim.

Although the blaze at the mall on M.A. Jinnah Road was reportedly brought under control after more than 24 hours on Sunday, firefighting operations resumed on Monday after flames re-emerged from smouldering debris.

Addressing a press conference alongside representatives of the business community, CM Murad said that while no amount of money could compensate for the loss of human life, the Sindh government would provide immediate financial relief to bereaved families.

“There can be no price tag on a life. Their grief cannot be compensated in any way, but the government is announcing Rs10 million for each person who lost their life,” he said, adding that the disbursement process would begin from Tuesday.

The chief minister initially said that 15 bodies had been recovered by early afternoon, while around 65 people reported to be inside the plaza remained missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase significantly. Later in the day, Edhi Foundation and Rescue 1122 confirmed that the number of recovered bodies had risen to 21, all shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi.

CM Murad revealed that nearly 40 per cent of the building had collapsed, with the remaining structure in a dangerously unstable condition. “We may have to demolish the entire building,” he warned.

He said rescue teams had carved out three access routes into the building and urged all institutions with relevant expertise to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.

The chief minister also announced the formation of a committee to assess traders’ losses and recommend rehabilitation measures. The committee includes Zubair Motiwala, Jawed Bilwani, Idress Memon, Junaid Makda and Rehan Hanif. Temporary space will be allocated to affected traders, while plans are underway to reconstruct Gul Plaza.

A forensic investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire, CM Murad said, adding that the chief secretary would notify a fact-finding committee.

Rescue officials described the blaze as a “deep-seated fire”, with smoke still emanating from debris even after control. Pakistan Navy rescue personnel, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Rescue 1122 and other agencies jointly took part in the operation, deploying over 20 fire tenders and hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.

Police officials revealed that although Gul Plaza had 16 gates, only three exits were open at the time of the incident, a factor that may have contributed to the high number of casualties. Several bodies were burnt beyond recognition, and DNA samples of eight families have been collected for identification.

The Sindh government has established helplines for missing persons at 0313-5048048, 021-99206372 and 021-99205625.

Meanwhile, a petition was filed in the Sindh High Court seeking criminal, departmental and contempt proceedings against officials responsible for alleged negligence and failure to enforce fire safety laws. The plea names the Sindh government, SBCA, KMC, fire and rescue authorities among the respondents, alleging gross negligence and non-compliance with previous court orders on fire safety.

Traffic on M.A. Jinnah Road from Tibet Centre to Garden Chowk remains closed due to rescue operations, with police issuing alternate routes for commuters.

Foreign missions, including those of the United Kingdom, Germany and France, expressed condolences, calling the incident a national tragedy.

Rescue operations and debris removal are ongoing amid fears that the casualty figure may rise further as missing persons are accounted for.
Tagged:

sindh

FireSafety

KarachiTragedy

GulPlazaFire
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