The death toll in the devastating fire in Gul Plaza has risen to 60 after the discovery of more bodies from a shop, with 88 remain missing, authorities said on Thursday.

Authorities said no timeline has yet been set for the completion of debris removal or the final casualty count, as operations and investigations remain ongoing.

An investigation team has been set up to probe the incident from all angles.

Investigators revealed that most of the building’s doors were closed at the time of the incident, with only two exits open, through which people attempted to escape.

According to sources, some trapped individuals also tried to break down a door during the fire in an effort to flee the building.

According to Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso, between 55 and 60 bodies have so far been recovered, while 88 people remain listed as missing.

Authorities fear that more bodies may still be trapped beneath the debris, which is why search and rescue operations were also carried out at night.

The deputy commissioner said that, apart from a few identifiable body parts, most of the recovered remains may be sent for DNA testing to confirm the number of fatalities.

He urged citizens not to pay heed to rumours circulating on social media and to rely only on verified and official information.

Khoso said that a comprehensive investigation into the incident is underway from all angles.

He clarified that it would be premature to conclude that the incident occurred solely due to an electrical short circuit and that all possible causes are being examined.

Multiple bodies recovered from same shop

Meanwhile, search and rescue teams were using heavy machinery to clear debris from the damaged structure.

Officials said heavy machinery is being used to break concrete beams and roof slabs.

During the search operation, remains of multiple bodies were recovered and transported to Civil Hospital Karachi for identification.

The remains have been sent for DNA cross-matching due to their severely deteriorated condition.

More bodies feared trapped

Chairman of Gul Plaza shopkeepers association, Tanveer Pasta, said that more bodies are still believed to be trapped inside the building.

Speaking to Aaj News, he said rescue teams remain engaged in retrieving bodies, but many of the victims are being found in extremely poor condition.

Meanwhile, authorities have reconstructed the timeline of the deadly fire at Gul Plaza with the help of CCTV footage.

According to CCTV evidence, the fire first broke out at the rear side of the plaza at 10.07pm, while ambulances began arriving at the scene by 10.12pm.

The sources said flames became visible on the M.A. Jinnah Road-facing side of the building at 10.18pm.

Fire spreads in 11 minutes

Officials said it took 11 minutes for the fire to spread from the rear to the front of the building.

Meanwhile, several videos recorded during the fire have surfaced on social media, showing people trapped inside the plaza desperately searching for escape routes as smoke and flames spread.

Authorities said remains of 20 to 25 victims were recovered from a single shop inside the plaza, bringing the overall death toll to 60.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said that bodies were recovered from the mezzanine floor, where people had reportedly locked themselves inside a crockery shop in an attempt to save their lives.

Phone location traced to same spot

“The last mobile phone locations of these individuals were also traced to the same spot,” the DIG said.

He added that the rescue operation on the third floor was temporarily suspended after information emerged about people being trapped on the mezzanine floor.

Debris removal has been halted temporarily, with priority now given to recovering bodies.

Officials said the death toll may rise further as operations continue.