Search and rescue operations continued at Karachi’s Gul Plaza on Thursday following a devastating fire that has so far claimed at least 61 lives, officials said.

The blaze broke out at the shopping plaza on MA Jinnah Road late Saturday night and was initially brought under control after more than 24 hours on Sunday. However, firefighting efforts had to resume on Monday after flames reignited from smouldering debris.

Gul Plaza, a ground-plus-three-storey commercial building with around 1,200 shops spread across 8,000 square yards, partially collapsed due to the intensity of the fire.

Rescue 1122’s urban search and rescue teams continued overnight operations, combing through debris with specialised equipment, including cutters and thermal imaging cameras.

In a grim development on Wednesday, at least 30 bodies were recovered from a gutted shop on the mezzanine floor. Karachi South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the remains were found inside a shop named “Dubai Crockery.” Earlier in the day, three more bodies had been recovered, taking the confirmed toll from 28 to 31. With the latest discovery, officials estimate the death toll has risen to 61.

Inquiry committee visits site

An inquiry committee formed by the Sindh government also visited the gutted plaza on Wednesday. Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, who heads the committee, was accompanied by Additional Inspector General Azad Khan.

Speaking to reporters, Naqvi said the inquiry was at an initial stage and pointed to serious concerns about the condition of the building. He noted that the adjacent Rimpa Plaza had also been affected by the fire, though it had not yet been declared dangerous. He lamented that fire safety arrangements in the buildings did not meet international standards.

Additional IG Azad Khan said no evidence of sabotage had emerged so far. “We are investigating the incident thoroughly,” he said, dismissing media reports claiming that two dumper trucks carrying debris to the KMC ground had gone missing.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) official Zafar Khan said firefighting and cooling operations were still underway amid “extreme heat” at two locations. One portion of the building had been cleared, while work was ongoing in two other sections.

“We will try to retrieve the bodies buried under the debris,” he said, adding that firefighters were being deployed only to structurally stable areas.

Khan also rejected allegations of a delayed response by the fire brigade, saying three fire tenders were dispatched immediately after the fire was reported on Saturday night. He alleged that chaos ensued as some shopkeepers snatched hoses from firefighters to try to save their own shops.

He further said the door to the roof was locked, preventing access, and noted that the market was closing at the time the fire erupted, which was why the exits were shut.