Entertainment
Karachi reports 225 fire outbreaks in January alone
- Fire incidents expose serious gaps in safety preparedness.
- More than 20 fire incidents reported in February so far.
- Deadliest incident of Gul Plaza fire occurred on Jan 17.
The memory of the deadly Gul Plaza fire still haunts Karachi, a stark reminder of how devastating fires can be in the city. But fire incidents still continue unabated, exposing serious gaps in safety and emergency preparedness.
Alarmingly, this January alone, Karachi reported 225 fire incidents, leaving destruction, injuries and loss of lives in their wake, The News reported on Saturday.
The trend has continued into February, with more than 20 fire incidents reported in just the first five days, showing that the city remains at constant risk.
Authorities warn that unless stricter safety measures are implemented and public awareness is raised, Karachi’s residents will continue to face daily threats from both major and minor fire incidents — a danger that cannot be ignored.
On Thursday alone, fire incidents were reported at six different locations in various parts of the city. While no human casualties were reported in these incidents, two animals — a cow and a buffalo — suffered burn injuries.
The deadliest incident had occurred on January 17, when an inferno at the Gul Plaza killed 79 people, including women and children, and left at least 22 others injured, according to official figures.
Since then, no major fire disaster of a similar scale has been reported. However, small-scale fires continue to erupt on a daily basis, with as many as five to six incidents sometimes being reported in a single day.
Four more people, including a child and an elderly man, also lost their lives in separate fire incidents last month. Alongside the loss of lives, countless others are grappling with property damage and financial ruin, painting a grim picture of the persistent danger fires pose to Karachi’s residents.
People often focus only on the Gul Plaza fire, the lives lost in it and the devastation it caused. But while such large-scale tragedies are rare, smaller fire incidents continue to occur on a daily basis across the city. These are not just statistics. People are losing their lives and suffering financial losses every day.
Among other notable incidents, a man died in Landhi on January 1 after being burnt by a fire lit to keep warm during the cold weather. On January 26, in Malir’s Khokhrapar area, a fire broke out at a privately run school operating inside a house, resulting in the death of a minor and injuries to another. Other students were rescued in time.
Another fatal fire occurred in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on January 28. A separate fire incident in Orangi Town also claimed one life. Several others suffered injuries in incidents reported at Hawkesbay and in Korangi, and near the Met Office area.
Data shows that District Central reported 30, the highest number of fires, in January. Saddar reported 18 incidents, while another 18 occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sohrab Goth–Gulistan-e-Mustafa fire station.
Nazimabad reported 13 incidents, SITE Area 11, and Lyari and Korangi nine each. Landhi reported three incidents, while Orangi Town and Shah Faisal Colony reported eight each. Manzoor Colony reported 14 incidents, and areas covered by the New Karachi fire station reported 13.
On Thursday, fires were reported at multiple locations, including a plastic warehouse near Nauman Kanta on Sher Shah Akbar Road, where the fire repeatedly reignited due to Thermocol. Firefighters used heavy machinery under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Nida Saman to demolish walls and complete cooling operations.
Other incidents included a fire on the roof of a private bank near the Sultan Hospital in Korangi No. 4, a fire in chemical-filled drums at a perfume factory in Mehran Town, a cattle shed fire in Malir’s Khurramabad area, a fire at a gym in Federal B Area, and a fire at a K-Electric junction near the Fatima Tower in New Karachi Industrial Area. All the fires were brought under control without any human casualties.
Authorities have expressed concern over the rising frequency of fire incidents, and stressed the urgent need for stricter safety measures, regular inspections and greater public awareness to prevent more tragedies.
Prince William appears to be growing worried for his cancer-stricken father King Charles after the latest health update causes major concerns in the Palace.
The Prince of Wales, who has been receiving more significant duties from the Palace, is fully aware of his royal in the family but he also deeply cares for his father.
King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales for Nigeria’s State Banquet last week, and William had expressed his concerns about the monarch’s health at the time.
However, he was quickly shut down by Camilla. According to an insider cited by Closer, William “did not feel Charles was well enough” for the engagements.
“William wants his father to slow down and take a proper step back,” the source said. However, every time William had brough it up, there’s a sense that Camilla “is encouraging Charles to continue his duty, especially at a time the family is receiving so much criticism”.
The heir to the throne believes that his father will improve if he is allowed to take proper rest.
“It’s very upsetting for him because he can see how quickly his father Charles is deteriorating and he feels totally helpless to do anything about it,” the source noted, adding that Camilla “blocks him at every turn”.
Meanwhile, King Charles is “incredibly proud” and he wants to continue as long as he possibly can. Even though William admires the trait in his father but he believes there has to be a line.
Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.
Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.
Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.
“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”
“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”
He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.
For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.
It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.
He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.
A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.
Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.
Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.
“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times.
The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours.
“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”
That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005.
But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward.
Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match.
“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”
He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination.
However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027.
“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade.
“Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”
NHL playoff watch: Guide to all 15 games on Showdown Saturday
King Charles health update leaves Prince William worried: ‘upsetting’
Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary
-
Business1 week agoFlipkart group CFO to leave co amid IPO plans – The Times of India
-
Business1 week agoVideo: The Effects of High Oil Prices
-
Fashion1 week agoChina’s textile & apparel exports surge 17% to $50 bn in Jan-Feb 2026
-
Sports1 week agoRating Adidas’ 2026 World Cup away shirts: Argentina, Spain, Mexico and more
-
Sports1 week agoAmerican Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti thanks Trump for Army-Navy game executive order
-
Tech1 week ago
The Corsair 4000D RS PC Case Keeps Your System Cool
-
Tech1 week ago‘Uncanny Valley’: Nvidia’s ‘Super Bowl of AI,’ Tesla Disappoints, and Meta’s VR Metaverse ‘Shutdown’
-
Tech1 week agoGamers Hate Nvidia’s DLSS 5. Developers Aren’t Crazy About It, Either