At a Glance
- A fire ignited by a short circuit at Karachi’s Gul Plaza mall killed six people and injured 22.
- Over 1,200 shops were destroyed and 16 people remain missing, including six family members.
- 70% of the blaze was contained by morning, but the aging structure may collapse.
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights lax safety standards in one of Pakistan’s busiest commercial hubs.
A nighttime blaze that began with a single short circuit has left Karachi’s Gul Plaza mall scorched, six people dead, and families desperate for news of 16 missing shoppers and workers.
The fire started shortly before 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 17, according to emergency calls reviewed by local outlets and reported by News Of Los Angeles. Within minutes, flames leapt from the ground floor to upper levels, feeding on carpets, blankets, and resin-based goods until more than 1,200 shops were damaged or destroyed.
Rapid Spread, Heavy Toll
“When we arrived, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames,” said Hassanul Haseeb, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Emergency Services Department (Rescue 122).
Rescue crews dispatched 22 fire brigades and 33 ambulances, yet the intensity of the blaze overwhelmed early containment efforts. By dawn on Jan. 18, officials estimated the fire was 70% contained, but smoke continued to rise as residual flames smoldered among the market’s flammable inventory.
The human toll rose quickly:
- Six deaths confirmed by the Sindh Government
- 22 injured, including firefighters, transported to Civil Hospital Karachi
- 16 people unaccounted for, among them a 14-year-old girl and five relatives
Authorities have not released the identities of the deceased, pending forensic verification and family notifications.
Cause and Contributing Factors
Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho, speaking at the scene, attributed the inferno to a short circuit in one of the ground-floor shops. He noted two factors that accelerated the damage:
- The market layout-a tightly packed warren of stalls with limited fire breaks
- The nature of merchandise-carpets, blankets, and resin-based items that burn hot and fast
“The layout and construction of this market was such, and secondly, the nature of the items in it-such as carpets, blankets and other objects made of resins-so the fire is still simmering because of these,” Odho explained.
Structural age adds another hazard. “The building appears very old, and there is a danger that its structure may fall anytime because of the impact of the fire,” Haseeb warned, forcing rescue teams to proceed with extreme caution.
Search and Recovery
Search crews have swept the debris for signs of life, but hopes dim with each passing hour. Among the missing:
- Six members of a single family
- Shopkeepers who stayed late to balance accounts
- Night-shift maintenance staff
Families have gathered outside cordons, clutching photos and pleading for faster updates. Hospital staff report that several injured survivors suffered smoke inhalation and burn trauma, with at least two firefighters listed in stable but critical condition.
Political Response
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered a formal investigation into the incident, tasking officials to examine:
- Electrical wiring compliance records
- Fire-safety equipment maintenance logs
- Building-code enforcement history
The provincial government has also posted relief resources on social media for affected shop owners and victims’ relatives, including helpline numbers and emergency compensation forms.
Rescue 1222 did not immediately respond to News Of Los Angeles‘s request for updated casualty figures on Sunday, Jan. 18.
Key Takeaways
- A short circuit triggered the deadliest mall fire in Karachi this year
- Speed of response was hampered by narrow corridors and flammable stock
- 16 missing people keep the tragedy’s final toll uncertain
- Officials vow a full safety audit of older commercial buildings city-wide
The blaze at Gul Plaza serves as a stark reminder of how quickly everyday electrical faults can spiral into catastrophe when safety standards lag behind commercial growth.
