KARACHI: At least 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop at Gul Plaza on Wednesday, in a harrowing discovery that pushed the death toll from the devastating fire to 60.
The discovery was made after rescue teams moved to the mezzanine floor, following a pause in operations on the first and second floors.
DIG South Syed Asad Raza said all 30 bodies were found inside a single crockery shop on the mezzanine floor. He added that the rescue operation will move to its next phase once the bodies are transported to the hospital.
While initial reports suggested 20 to 25 bodies were inside the shop, DIG Raza confirmed the total number recovered was 30.
Following the discovery, the South DIG formed a special team to move the bodies to Civil Hospital.
Rescue teams — including Rescue 1122, Edhi officials, Rangers, and Chhipa volunteers — were pulled back from the building, while a large number of ambulances were dispatched for the operation.
Police quickly cordoned off the area, with additional personnel called in to ensure smooth operations.
Authorities, meanwhile, remained uncertain whether the recovered bodies were those of shopkeepers, workers, or customers.
Today, operations were concentrated on the third floor; however, around 2pm, efforts were temporarily paused, and teams were redirected to search the mezzanine floor.
Shop No. 144, where the bodies were discovered, was identified with the help of a shopkeeper who had seen people entering the shop during the incident.
Earlier, the operation had been slowed as water bowsers and other heavy machinery on the first and second floors were temporarily halted to allow access to the mezzanine level.
The victims reportedly took refuge inside the shop after a stampede erupted in the mall during the fire’s initial moments. Many others inside the building had sought shelter in shops, corners, and under sheds, as most of the shopping centre’s exits were closed when the fire broke out.
With the discovery at the shop, the death toll from the inferno has risen to 60, with dozens still reported missing.
Meanwhile, Karachi South deputy commissioner noted that several areas of the building have not yet been cleared and that rescue operations in those sections will begin later in the day.
