Deadly accident: Five students killed, 13 injured in roof collapse

Construction work was taking place on the first floor of the madrassa

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Five students died and 13 others were injured on Tuesday when the roof of a madrassa near Geederwala Bypass in Dera Ghazi Khan collapsed on them.

According to Rescue-1122 officials, the roof of the madrassa located on Multan Road collapsed at around 11am. “The children were studying on the ground floor of the madrassa while construction work was taking place on the first floor. Thirteen children were caught under the rubble,” a Rescue 1122 official said. They were pulled out of the debris and taken to Dera Ghazi Khan Teaching Hospital. Five of them: Irfan, Shafiq, Hamza, Naveed and Ejaz were later pronounced dead by doctors. Two of the injured were stated to be in critical condition.

Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Muhammad Yasrab Hanjra, DCO Nadeemur Rehman, DPO Ata Muhammad, Health EDO Dr Syed Muhammad Munawar Abbas and Rescue 1122 Divisional In-charge Dr Natiq Hayat visited the site and oversaw the rescue operation.

The commissioner and the DCO directed the hospital administration to provide the best medical treatment facilities to the injured. DCO Rehman said that an emergency had been declared in hospitals of the city after the accident. He said that an inquiry would be held into the accident.

Later, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued a statement expressing his sympathies with the families that had lost children in the tragic incident. He directed the hospital management to provide the injured the best possible treatment.  He said he was deeply grieved by the incident. The chief minister has sought a report from the Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner and has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2016.