Murtaza Wahab

Built World

Overseeing rescue operations

Thirty bodies were found in a single shop. The victims—shopkeepers and customers at 'Dubai Crockery' on the mezzanine floor of Karachi's Gul Plaza—had pulled down the iron shutters to escape flames and stampeding crowds. Instead, they trapped themselves. The fire that swept through the 1,200-shop commercial complex on MA Jinnah Road on January 17, 2026, has now killed 79-80 people according to final investigation reports. The nine-day search operation concluded January 26 with the building sealed and 69 victims identified by January 30 using DNA testing, geo-tagging technology, and anti-mortem data. Police registered a criminal case January 23 citing 'negligence and carelessness,' and formed a five-member special investigation team January 26 to arrest those responsible. Both Civil Defence officials were suspended January 29 for failing to enforce prior safety violation notices.

Updated Feb 5