A devastating fire broke out in a multi-storey shopping mall on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road, resulting in the tragic loss of eleven lives on Saturday.
The Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, confirmed the casualties on his social media account, stating, “KMC Fire Department has so far confirmed that there have been 9 casualties in the fire incident.” He also provided information about the bodies being shifted to various hospitals in the city, emphasizing that the search process was still ongoing.
According to fire brigade officials, approximately 50 individuals who were trapped inside the RJ shopping mall were successfully rescued through a coordinated effort involving two snorkels, eight fire tenders, and a bowser.
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) reported receiving nine bodies, while one body each was transported to the Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, as per a rescue official. Efforts are underway to bring more people to safety, with the fire now under control and the cooling process in progress on one of the floors.
The fire, which started around 7 am on the second floor, quickly spread to engulf the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Injured individuals have been taken to nearby healthcare facilities for treatment, with six reported to be in critical condition.
Rauf Hamid, a survivor rescued from the building, recounted the chaos, stating, “When the fire broke out, we saved ourselves by rushing towards a safe room. The smoke was so intense that we didn’t understand what was happening.”
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar expressed regret over the loss of life and directed urgent measures to control the fire, ensuring immediate medical aid for the injured.
Karachi Deputy Commissioner Salim Rajput visited the site, ordering an inquiry into the incident. He announced plans to seal buildings lacking security arrangements, with a 30-day deadline for data collection on all buildings in their areas. Legal action will be taken against those found responsible.
Chief Fire Officer Mubeen Ahmed revealed that this was the second fire incident in the mall’s building in two years. He emphasized the importance of assessing fire safety equipment after completing the rescue operation.
Karachi Fire Rescue Commander Humayun Khan suggested a short circuit as the probable cause of the fire and noted the absence of a fire extinguishing system in the shopping centre. He highlighted challenges faced during the rescue due to the building’s central air conditioning.
