Six killed as awning collapses at mosque

KARACHI: A metal awning collapsed at a mosque in a Karachi neighbourhood during Friday prayers, killing six worshippers and injuring as many.

The steel and tarpaulin sunshade came crashing down on worshippers in the courtyard of Jama Masjid Usman, situated near the Landi Kotal Chowrangi in North Nazimabad, 15 minutes after the Jumma congregation had ended.

Rescuers pulled out worshippers from under the awning and moved them to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Four victims were brought dead while two succumbed to their injuries later, doctors said.

“Thank God it did not happen during Friday prayers or the casualty figure would have been much higher,” said Abdul Hamid, one of the muezzins of the mosque.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2016.