Mazaj News (Web Desk) Rescue teams continued operations at Gul Plaza on Wednesday following a devastating fire that has so far claimed 28 lives, with authorities confirming the identification of three additional victims.
The fire broke out on Saturday night, engulfing the ground-plus-three-storey building, which housed approximately 1,200 shops over an area of 8,000 square yards. Portions of the plaza collapsed due to the intensity of the blaze.
According to a statement from the Edhi Foundation, three of the 21 unidentified bodies at the Edhi morgue have now been identified. The remains belong to a 15-year-old girl and two men, with DNA testing used for confirmation.
On Tuesday, large crowds gathered near the scene, prompting law enforcement to set up temporary barricades to restrict access. Smoke continued to rise from the debris as rescue teams worked.
Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed told Dawn that the death toll had reached 28, which includes five women. Officials carried out post-mortem examinations on what she described as fragmentary human remains.
Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing as authorities continue to search for other potential victims amidst the rubble.