Fragile structure: Shaky building evacuated for fear of collapse

KARACHI:

A residential building located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 10-A was evacuated on Friday after it started to shake and cracks appeared on its walls.

The four-storey structure was built in 2010 on 99 square yards with permission from Cantonment Board Faisal (CBF). Currently, two families were living in the building, who evacuated the building after it started shaking. Later, the adjacent buildings were also evacuated by the police and CBF officials who reached the location after some time.

Mehboob Rasheed, the CBF spokesperson told The Express Tribune, "The cracks started appearing last night and increased today. On the complaint of the residents, a team of engineers was dispatched to the site, who evacuated the two families that were residing in the building." He added that the building was owned by a man identified as Muzaffar Ali and they were trying to reach him.

A team of cantonment board's engineers is present on the site and is trying to ascertain the safest possible way to demolish the building without affecting other structures located in the vicinity. Later in the evening, the Sui Southern Gas Company staff disconnected the gas supply to the building, while a K-Electric team was also on the way to do the same with the electricity connection.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2015.