Gul Plaza tragedy: Initial report rules out short circuit

Investigative authorities have prepared a preliminary report into the Gul Plaza tragedy based on statements from eyewitnesses and affected individuals, officials said on Wednesday.

According to investigative sources, the fire reportedly broke out at a shop selling artificial flowers inside Gul Plaza. The initial findings suggest that children present in the shop were playing when the fire started. Sources said it is suspected that the children may have been playing with matches or a lighter, which caused the fire to ignite among the shop’s materials before spreading to electrical wiring.

The report indicates that the blaze was not caused by a short circuit. As the fire erupted, people inside the building rushed towards exit points. However, panic ensued after some of the building’s doors were found to be closed, leading to a stampede-like situation, the sources added.

Officials said that most of the shops in the building were open at the time of the incident. Investigators also noted that iron grills were installed along the rooftop access route, which may have hindered evacuation efforts.

The fire severely damaged the building’s CCTV system, rendering it completely inoperative, according to the sources.