Medico-legal teams strive to identify remains of at least 37 confirmed dead despite intensity of burns
Smoke billows from Karachi’s Gul Plaza after a massive fire. Photo: INP
KARACHI:
At least 12 more people who died in the Gul Plaza fire have been identified using Pakinomist-tagging, bringing the number of identified dead to 42, the Sindh Police confirmed on Thursday.
A joint investigation is currently underway by Sindh Police’s forensic units and Punjab’s Urban Search and Rescue Force (USAR), using ARSEN technology, which relies on the collection and examination of digital evidence from sites affected by structural fires.
The remains of at least three members of a family, Umar Nabeel, his wife Dr. Ayesha and their son Ali, all residents of North Nazimabad, were identified on Thursday. Besides, the remains of Khizar Ali, Haider Ali, Aamir Ali, Abu Bakar, Yaseen, Sadaqatullah, Yousaf Khan, Nematullah and Abdullah were also identified using Pakinomist-tagging of mobile devices and other personal belongings.
Read: Gul Plaza fire probe finds fire started in flower shop, spread via AC ducts
A medico-legal team led by Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed is still at the scene collecting remains of the deceased, collecting samples and sending them for forensic testing. The Sindh Civil Police Liaison Committee is confirming the names of the deceased and helping bereaved families to collect remains for the last rites.
Earlier, at least 23 of the tragedy’s confirmed 79 victims had been identified using DNA tests, another six through facial recognition and one of their computerized national identity cards (CNIC).
Read: FIR filed over deadly Gul Plaza fire; structural safety review underway
On Wednesday, an inquiry committee headed by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and comprising AIG Javed Alam Odho released the final inquiry report on the fire, confirming that the flames ignited in a flower shop around 22.15, quickly spread via air conditioning ducts and developed into an inferno.
The report determined the origin of the fire to be an accident caused by children playing with matches. The fire service was first alerted at 22.26, South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso reached the spot at 22.30, followed by the first fire brigade at 22.37, and rescue personnel 1122 at 22.53.
Most of the deaths were traced to the mezzanine of the trading floor.
on the Gul Plaza fire was prepared by a committee comprising Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and Additional Inspector General Javed Alam Odho
