Sindh Government Initiates Judicial Inquiry into Fatal Gul Plaza Fire in Karachi
The Sindh government has requested a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, which resulted in approximately 80 fatalities on January 17. A fact-finding committee revealed delays in water supply to fire tenders hampered firefighting efforts.
The Civil Defense department, responsible for fire safety audits, failed to take necessary actions, leading to the suspension of its director and additional controller. Approximately 2,000 to 2,500 individuals were present in the plaza during the fire.
The inquiry also uncovered inadequacies in firefighting tools and training among the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) and emergency services. The government suspended senior officials from the KMC and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation for their roles in the incident. A needs assessment has been ordered to enhance firefighting capabilities in the region.
