Gul Plaza rescue operation may take up to 15 days, says chief fire officer

Karachi Chief Fire Officer KMC Humayun Ahmed has said that a firefighter was martyred during rescue operations at Saddar’s Gul Plaza, adding that despite the loss, the department continues to face criticism.

Talking to the media, the chief fire officer said the fire department had no connection with politics and was operating under severe resource constraints. He highlighted that Karachi faces an acute shortage of fire stations and firefighting equipment.

Ahmed said the city requires hundreds of fire tenders to effectively deal with emergencies. "We are running 28 fire stations with funds allocated for only 21," he said, adding that the department was working with limited vehicles and manpower while handling operations beyond its capacity.

Providing an update on the Gul Plaza operation, the fire chief said the rescue and clearance work could take up to 15 days due to the large area affected. He explained that fires often reignite during debris removal, making the operation more complex and time-consuming.

He further said that significant cash was recovered during rescue operations a day earlier and handed over to the relevant authorities. “We have been working continuously at the site for the past three days,” he said, adding that search operations had been conducted on the first and second floors of the building.