A team of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has completed the inspection of Gul Plaza, which was destroyed by fire five days ago, and has decided to immediately place a jack in the portion of the building adjacent to Rimpa Plaza.Meanwhile, the death toll from the fire has reached 28, while 85 people are still missing and it is feared that the death toll might rise. DC South Javed Nabi Khoso has said that 11 bodies have been identified so far.

The SBCA team has also declared the building of Rimpa Plaza unsafe and has issued notices to the plaza’s management as well as shopkeepers. The team has said that the debris falling after fire in Gul Plaza has badly damaged the pillars of Rimpa Plaza as well and affected its two columns. It has said that the interior of the building has been affected due to the damage caused to its exterior. 

The Authority officials have said that the management and shopkeepers of the plaza have been immediately barred from the use of affected portion of the building. They have further said that the building should not be used until and unless a competent authority declares it safe for commercial and other activities. The officials have informed that hot water is present in the basement of the building in a large quantity and only when it is drained out that the inspection of columns will be possible.

They have also made it clear that legal action will be taken against those not complying with the instructions.The SBCA officials have said it will be premature to say whether Zimpa Plaza will also come crashing down immediately. On the other hand, out of 21 bodies placed in Edhi mortuary, three have been identified. The deceased have been identified as Muhammad Shehroze (age 33), Maryam (15) and Muhammad Rizwan (26). They were identified through DNA testing.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)