Deadly fire at Karachi shopping mall kills 6, dozens injured

KATHMANDU: A massive fire broke out at a popular shopping mall in Karachi’s southern port city on Thursday, claiming the lives of at least six people and injuring more than 20 others, officials said.

The blaze erupted at Gul Plaza, located on M.A. Jinnah Road, one of Karachi’s busiest commercial areas.

The multi-story building houses over 1,200 shops, and the fire quickly spread across several floors, trapping shoppers and store employees inside.

Sadia Javed, spokesperson for Sindh province, said firefighting teams were working relentlessly to bring the inferno under control.

She confirmed that emergency services were conducting ongoing rescue operations, as some individuals are still feared trapped inside the building.

Police officials have indicated that the fire started on the ground floor, likely originating from an electrical short circuit. “Our preliminary investigation suggests that faulty wiring may have triggered the blaze,” a senior police officer said.

Rescue teams, including firefighters and paramedics, were deployed to evacuate the building and provide medical assistance to victims.

Many of the injured are being treated at nearby hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition.

Authorities have called for calm while the investigation continues. They warned the public to avoid the area to allow emergency teams to operate efficiently.