The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi climbed to 73 on Sunday after rescuers recovered two additional bodies from the rubble of the shopping complex, underscoring the scale of the tragedy more than a week after the blaze began on January 17, 2026. Rescue teams continue to search inside the heavily damaged structure, but identification remains difficult amid debris and severe destruction.
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed the updated figure and said ongoing identification efforts rely on DNA profiling and facial recognition due to the condition of many remains. So far, authorities have identified several victims through these processes at the Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory.
The fire destroyed over 1,100 shops in the plaza, and many families of the missing wait anxiously for news of loved ones. Police have registered a case against the incident, alleging negligence and carelessness, though no accused individuals have yet been named. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited affected families, offered support including education assistance and residential plots and called for streamlined procedures for death certificates and a judicial commission to ensure accountability.