Gul Plaza fire: Three additional victims found as the death toll rises to 28

As rescue workers continued to search through the rubble, the number of fatalities from the Gul Plaza fire increased to at least 28 on Tuesday, with 81 people still unaccounted for.

Three additional victims of the Gul Plaza disaster have had their identities verified, according to reports. So far, 11 bodies have been identified. The morgue still has at least 17 dead remains awaiting DNA identification.

The ground-plus-three-story commercial structure, which housed over 1,200 stores, partially collapsed as a result of the Saturday night fire. Even as heavy equipment was used to remove debris, smoke could still be seen rising from the wreckage.

The ground, mezzanine, and first levels of the damaged structure have been cleared, and rescue workers resumed their search on Tuesday.

Rescue personnel reported that a firefighter was taken to the hospital after becoming unconscious from smoke inhalation. The building has collapsed in multiple places and is now a pile of rubble due to the fire. The building’s surviving structure could collapse at any time, and there’s also a chance that a portion of the building next door could collapse as well.

It’s important to note that 32 automobiles and other vehicles were removed from Gul Plaza’s rooftop, along with big generators.

Affected traders were greeted by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who urged strict adherence to safety regulations and pledged support for the plaza’s reconstruction. He referred to safety infractions and corruption as “equivalent to murder.”

However, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah assured support to impacted merchants and announced Rs 10 million in compensation for the families of each deceased victim.