Equipment shortage, delayed response by fire dept killed 73 in Karachi inferno: mall body chief

KARACHI: (Mar 15) Inadequate equipment and delayed response by the fire department resulted in over 70 deaths and injuries in the January fire at a shopping complex in Pakistan’s Karachi, an office-bearer of the mall association alleged Saturday.

At least 73 persons were killed in the massive fire that engulfed the Gul Shopping Plaza on January 17. About two dozen people were injured due to the fire, smoke inhalation and structural failures after the blaze turned into an inferno that could be reigned in only after two days.

Gul Shopping Plaza Association president Tanveer Pasha, in a written statement submitted to the Judicial Commission said that the fire engine reached the site nearly 40 minutes after the fire broke out.