KARACHI (HRNW): Tanveer Pasta, President of the Gul Plaza Association, has submitted his response to the questionnaire issued by the Judicial Commission investigating the Gul Plaza fire tragedy. In his statement, Pasta held government departments and rescue services primarily responsible for the casualties and the scale of the destruction.
According to Pasta, the slow response and inadequate rescue arrangements were the main factors behind the loss of life. He claimed that the first fire brigade vehicle arrived at 10:55 AM, long after the incident began, and ran out of water within just 20 minutes. Two additional fire tenders did not arrive until 11:30 AM, by which time the blaze had already engulfed all three sides of the ground floor.
The response submitted to the Judicial Commission highlighted several critical failures:
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Lack of Safety Equipment: Rescue personnel lacked basic safety gear, including masks and protective suits, rendering them unable to enter the building to save trapped individuals during the initial, crucial hours.
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Absence of Firefighting Agents: Firefighters reportedly did not have access to foam or chemicals required to extinguish such an intense blaze, further complicating the operation.
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Water Utility Delays: While the market administration arranged for private water tankers through self-help, the Water Corporation only provided tankers after the break of dawn.
Tanveer Pasta further noted that although the locations of trapped individuals were identified and communicated, many could not be saved due to the lack of proper government rescue facilities. He emphasized that relief activities only became active after Fajar (dawn), but by then, the intensity of the fire had become uncontrollable.
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