Update: Seven killed in Pakistan shopping plaza collapse

At least seven persons were killed and 63 others injured while over a 11 were still trapped under the debris as a five-storey shopping plaza collapsed in Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi near capital Islamabad after more than 12 hours of fire that could not be extinguished till Saturday evening despite passage of 20 hours.

The Gakhar Plaza having over 450 shops is located about few hundred metres from General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army. Owned by a former federal minister Raja Shahid Zafar mostly housed garment shops, however, one of its flour was occupied by a CD company. The fire reportedly erupted at 3 a.m. on Saturday and reduced all the goods in the plaza to ashes till noon.

As the fire could not be extinguished for more than 12 hours, the building collapsed around 3 p.m. and over 25 rescuers were trapped under the debris. However, 10 of them managed to come out with injuries and were shifted to different hospitals.

National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Farooq Ahmed Khan told media at the scene of the incident that at least seven persons had died in the incident. He said that 63 persons were injured  while 11 rescuers were believed trapped in the debris of the building. He said that the rescue work was in progress and army, air force, civil aviation and municipal services personnel were busy in removing debris to recover those trapped in the rubble.

Interestingly, the owner of the plaza, Raja Shahid Zafar, a former parliamentarian belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who also held a federal ministry in the cabinet of late Benazir Bhutto, claimed that the fire was result of a sabotage act and revenge for the Mumbai attacks.

“There are 90 per cent chances of sabotage as revenge for Mumbai attacks while only 10 per cent are chances of an electricity short circuit,” he told media at the site of the incident. “Although it is huge loss for me, I am really shocked by the loss of billions of rupees suffered by over 450 traders. The plaza will be constructed afresh and all the traders will be allotted shops,” he said. “None of the tenants will be deprived of the business opportunity.”

The Gakhar Plaza was the largest shopping plaza in the city and was a favourite place for garment shopping.