Nineteen days have passed since the tragic Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, but investigations into the devastating incident continue to reveal new and shocking details.

According to investigation officials, the preliminary cause of the fire has been traced to shop number 193, where a child was reportedly playing with matchsticks. The fire quickly spread and engulfed the entire building within a short time, leaving little chance for escape.

However, investigators say the probe has faced a major setback due to the unavailability of CCTV footage from the first and second floors of the plaza. The missing footage has made it difficult to fully reconstruct the initial moments of the fire and understand how it spread so rapidly. Officials admitted that several aspects of the investigation have been affected because of this gap.

The death toll in the Gul Plaza tragedy has now risen to 79. So far, the bodies and remains of 68 victims have been handed over to their families, while the identification process and legal formalities for the remaining victims are still underway. Grieving families are demanding justice and strict action against those responsible for negligence.

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Meanwhile, the road leading from Gul Plaza toward the exhibition area has been closed to all traffic, causing severe congestion and disrupting traffic flow in surrounding areas.

Authorities have also clarified that demolition of the damaged building cannot begin until the investigation is completed. Officials said permission to raze the structure will only be granted once the inquiry reaches its logical conclusion.

The incident has once again raised serious questions about fire safety measures and enforcement in commercial buildings across Karachi.