Tragic: Five of a family killed in roof collapse

At around 3 am, roof of the upper storey caved in. A little later, the roof of the ground floor also collapsed: Police

LAHORE: Five people were killed and seven others were injured after the roof of a house collapsed on them in Dehli Gate area late on Saturday.

Police said that Muhammad Jameel, a book-binder, had lived in a rented house near Masjid Wazir Khan. “A large number of Jameel’s relatives had gathered in his house for his daughter’s marriage ceremony. Late on Saturday night, the family had arranged mehndi at a nearby marriage hall. When they returned home, some of them went to sleep while others sat down talking. At around 3am, the roof of the upper storey caved in. A little later, the roof of the ground floor also collapsed,” police said.

Neighbours came over and started removing the debris. Rescue 1122 teams also came and took the injured to Mayo Hospital and Nawaz Sharif Hospital for treatment. A 1122 official said their rescue efforts were slowed by the fact that the street was very narrow. The deceased were identified as Tafseela, 40, her daughter, Aqsa, 9, sister Dua, 35, a cousin Mehwish, 28, and Parveen. The injured were identified as three-month-old Haraam, one and half-year-old Ayan, Mah Noor, 3, Rehman, 4, Nabeela, 30, Jameel, 45.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were held at Masjid Wazir Khan on Sunday evening. A large number of people attended.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.