A massive fire that broke out once again in the basement of already destroyed Gul Plaza was brought under control immediately, it was reported on Monday.
Flames rose from the debris of Gul Plaza, where people present at the scene apprehended a drug addict and handed him over to the police.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said information about smoke rising from the building was received at a quarter to six.
Fire brigade teams arrived in time and began firefighting operations. A large portion of the basement and several shops had remained safe during the previous fire incident.
It is suspected that the fire started in those shops and in the scrap and waste lying inside.
Additional Deputy Commissioner South Amir Fazal said six fire tenders of KMC and one snorkel were engaged in the operation.
Due to heavy smoke, firefighters faced difficulty entering the premises, and machinery was used to expel the smoke.
Initially, three fire tenders were dispatched to control the blaze, but the number was later increased to a dozen as firefighters worked to bring the flames under control.
Additional Deputy Commissioner South Asma Batool said that the building, which had been sealed, caught fire in the basement.
Teams were attempting to enter the premises to assess the situation, she said, adding the extent of damage across shops was not immediately clear.
Police later said that a suspected drug-addicted person, allegedly attempting theft, may have started the fire after entering the premises of the sealed complex.
The individual has been taken into custody for questioning, they added.
Meanwhile, firefighting teams requested immediate assistance from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), which activated emergency protocols at Nipa Chowrangi and Safoora hydrants.
An official said that water tankers were dispatched to support operations, with the hydrants’ cell head in close contact with the fire brigade and rescue officials.
At the affected site, firefighting teams used specialised smoke injectors to clear the smoke from inside the gutted building.
With firefighting operations underway, one lane of MA Jinnah Road has been closed for traffic due to safety concerns.
