Karachi shopping plaza fire death toll reaches 28, another 80 missing
Karachi (PTI): At least 28 people have died in the fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s Karachi with another 80 missing as rescue operations continued to locate them in the rubble of the old building on Tuesday.
Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed confirmed on Tuesday that so far 28 bodies had been brought to the Jinnah and civil hospitals while another 20 were still under treatment but in stable condition.
“Since Saturday night when the fire broke out, 28 bodies have been brought to the hospitals,” she said.
Syed said so far 18 bodies had been identified while DNA tests were also being carried out to confirm the identity of the others.
The fire broke out at a shop in the basement of the Gul Shopping Plaza, a wholesale and retail market, and quickly spread to the rest of the building.
Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer (COO) Abid Jalal said due to the intensity of the fire, which was only brought under control after nearly 34 hours, many portions of the dilapidated structure had collapsed.
“We have been given a list of some 80 people who are believed to be missing in the fire,” he said.
He added that some of them could be on the list of dead sent to hospitals since Saturday.
“The rescue operations are progressing slowly because of the condition of the building and there were around 1200 shops on all floors,” he said.
Relatives and families of the missing people have refused to leave the site of the building as they wait anxiously for news while the authorities have closed the M A Jinnah Road for all traffic.
Business owners and traders observed a one day mourning on Monday in remembrance of those who perished in the fire.
Tanweer Pasha, a senior official of the Gul Plaza shop owners association, estimated that the fire has caused losses of at least 3 billion PKR.
He said that the exact figure would only be known once the rescue operations are completed.
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Retired ISRO employee strangles wife in Bengaluru, held by police
Bengaluru (PTI): A 65-year-old retired ISRO employee allegedly strangled his wife to death with a towel at their residence on Wednesday, police said.
The incident was reported at around 11 am within the Avalahalli police station limits.
The accused, Nageshwar Rao, has been taken into police custody, authorities added.
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Citing the preliminary investigation, a senior police officer said Rao was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression.
Rao allegedly wanted to end his life after killing his wife, police added.
After the alleged attack on his wife, Sandya Sri, Rao reportedly remained at the spot. He then contacted an acquaintance, who alerted the police.
A police team arrived at the residence and took Rao into custody.
"He was reportedly undergoing treatment for depression and was distressed. He allegedly intended to take his life after the incident, which is why he attacked his wife. There appear to be no other major reasons," said Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield).
The couple’s daughter, who is in the US, has been informed about the incident, police said.
A case of murder has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
