KARACHI: A massive fire tore through Gul Plaza on Saturday night. Residents said authorities could have contained it sooner. Delays and limited resources allowed flames to spread for hours.
Traders and locals blamed slow action by civic agencies. They said Saddar Fire Station stood only minutes away. Firefighting began in full force early Sunday.
Shopkeepers told Dawn timely action could have saved lives. They said stronger resources were missing at the start. Many believed the damage was preventable.
One trader said firefighters arrived too late. Another resident said officials cited water shortages. The lack of water repeatedly stalled operations.
People criticised the Sindh government and city administration. They questioned the absence of senior officials. They also blamed poor road conditions on M.A. Jinnah Road.
Residents said narrow roads blocked water bowsers. They said even two vehicles could not stand together. This delay worsened the fire.
A shopkeeper said early action could have reduced losses. He said flames consumed everything by morning. He stood staring at the rubble in despair.
Another trader said rescue failures cost lives. He said shops supported thousands of families. He added livelihoods vanished overnight.
A young man said smoke spread rapidly inside the building. Flames soon reached the upper floors. He believed timely rescue could have saved people.
By Sunday night, flames still burned. Fear and grief gripped Saddar and M.A. Jinnah Road. The area remained cloaked in smoke and mourning.
Sunday morning felt unusually silent. The market showed no signs of life. Traders and families stood helplessly outside.
Some searched for missing relatives. Others mourned destroyed businesses. Faces looked exhausted and hopeless.
The once-crowded market now resembles a skeleton. Charred walls stand where shops once thrived. Buyers’ noise has vanished.
Parts of the building have collapsed. The rubble shows massive destruction. Hundreds of shops lie in ruins.
The fire burned more than concrete and steel. It destroyed trust and years of labour. Economic lives collapsed within hours.
Debris and ash buried traders’ futures. Loss struck suddenly and deeply.
‘Everything was here’
A trader who worked there for two decades stood silently. He looked at the blackened structure. He finally said, “Everything was here.”
Another trader broke down while speaking. He pointed toward the burning remains. People tried to comfort him.
Majid, a children’s clothing seller, spoke in grief. He said traders stocked goods for Eid. He said everything turned into ashes.
Ageing structure worsened disaster
People also blamed the building’s design. Gul Plaza was built decades ago. Over time, risks multiplied.
Narrow corridors packed thousands of shops. Warehouses and stockrooms filled every space. Combustible goods lined the passages.
Traders cited poor wiring and congestion. Fabrics and plastics fueled the flames. Safety standards remained ignored.
They said such disasters destroy entire livelihoods. Traders now face debt and rebuilding. Many must start again from nothing.