The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi has risen to 26, while at least 83 people remain missing, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The blaze, which erupted late Saturday night, has destroyed large portions of the building, turning a busy commercial center into a scene of unimaginable tragedy.

Rescue operations are continuing as teams work tirelessly to clear debris and search for victims. The first floor has now been completely searched, and efforts have shifted to the second floor. Rescue 1122 Sindh confirmed that most sections of the plaza have now been reached and that search efforts remain ongoing. Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi stated that 26 bodies have been recovered so far, with only half identified. The remaining victims will be identified through DNA analysis. He also noted that official complaints regarding at least 75 missing individuals have been registered. Describing the disaster, Naqvi said the blaze was unlike anything he had ever witnessed in his life.

This tragedy was far more than a routine accident. For the families waiting outside the burnt structure, it has felt like the end of the world. Loved ones stand for hours in uncertainty, offering silent prayers and holding onto the faintest hope that someone might still emerge alive. Inside, those trapped endured unimaginable terror, caught between survival and death.

One of the few survivors, Khalid, shared his struggle with local media. He explained that he escaped by following the walls in total darkness as thick smoke filled the air. Overcome by fumes, he later collapsed and regained consciousness in a hospital.

“It felt like life was slipping away,” Khalid said. “People were shouting, the smoke was suffocating, and then the electricity went out. We couldn’t see anything.” Several members of his family and fellow workers are still missing, and he now waits outside the plaza, like many others, desperate for answers.

Among the crowds gathered outside the burned plaza is a father who has been standing there for hours, perhaps days, waiting for his son. With tired eyes and a trembling voice, he told authorities that his family at home has stopped eating. His wife and children refuse to eat anything, saying they will only eat when he returns. They sit in silence, clinging to the belief that their son and brother will walk through the door alive.

Nearby, a woman shared a grief too heavy for words. She said her two young sisters had been burned to death in the fire. Yet she made a heartbreaking decision: she would not take their bodies home. Her family, she explained, has already been shattered by loss. Just a year ago, another young sister was killed in Karachi after being hit by a speeding truck. Only two months ago, their father passed away.

“If I bring these bodies home,” she said, her voice breaking, “my mother will not survive this pain. She has already lost too much. This grief will kill her.”

There are countless personal stories tied to this disaster. Some victims had arrived to prepare for weddings; others were buying gifts for their children. Many were employee’s cleaners, shopkeepers, and labourer’s — simply earning their livelihood. In a matter of moments, everything was reduced to ashes.

Yet a painful question continues to linger: Can anyone still be alive after more than 40 hours? With over 83 people still missing and no clear signs of survivors, Karachi remains suspended between hope and sorrow.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)