Twelve days after the tragic fire at the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, authorities on Wednesday claimed that the blaze was accidentally started by a child.

The fire, which erupted at 10.15pm on the ground floor of the plaza, rapidly engulfed the building due to air-conditioning ducts, claiming 79 lives, most on the mezzanine floor.

An investigative report, compiled by a committee including the Commissioner of Karachi and the Additional Inspector General of Police, details the fire’s origin, the response of firefighting teams, rescue operations, and eyewitness accounts.

The first fire tender arrived at 10.37pm, with the deputy commissioner Karachi South present on-site at 10.30pm, while Rescue 1122 teams reached at 10.53pm.

The blaze began in a flower shop on the ground floor and is believed to have spread when the child inadvertently caused a fire at the shop.

Identification process continues

Authorities have so far traced and recovered 79 bodies, but only seven victims could be identified visually.

At least 46 bodies remain unidentifiable and are undergoing DNA testing. Six individuals are still missing.

So far, 27 bodies have been identified, 20 of them through DNA analysis, including members of a family from Delhi Colony.

Bodies of two more members of the family — Kausar Parveen and Ashraf — will be handed over to their families today (Wednesday).

Earlier, four members of the same family were identified using DNA tests.

Punjab team joins investigations

The Sindh Police have launched a joint investigation with the Urban Search and Research Force from Punjab, using the latest technology to collect samples from key sections of the burnt building.

A meeting of members from both agencies was held at the office of the deputy commissioner Karachi south.

The investigation seeks to determine how the fire engulfed such a large building so quickly, while identifying the exact origin and cause of the blaze.

Forensic teams from the Sindh Police, with support from Punjab’s forensic experts, are also examining structural and technological evidence to prevent similar disasters in the future.