Wiped out: Roof collapse kills five of Gujranwala family

Shehbaz seeks report from town officials, orders best treatment for survivor

LAHORE: Five members of a family died and a woman was injured when the roof of their house in Gujranwala collapsed on Monday.

The accident took place at the residence of Taj Mohammad, who lived in the house with his wife and four children – two sons and two daughters – in the Gondanwala village.

The family was inside the house when the roof caved in, trapping all members under the debris. The loud noise attracted the attention of the neighbours who rushed to the spot to rescue the victims.

Rescue organisations were also called in and the victims were shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced five of them dead on arrival.

The deceased were identified as Taj, the head of the family, his two sons Fahad and Ahad, two daughters Tahira and Rabia. Taj’s wife Uzma Bibi survived the accident and was discharged from the hospital after treatment.

Police claimed the family was living a dilapidated house, where the concrete roof had been made with wood stocks instead of iron girders.

A pall of gloom descended upon the village as the news of the death of five members of the same family spread. Emotional scenes were witnessed when the bodies were brought to the village for burial from the hospital.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the death of the five family members in the roof collapse and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

He has also sought a report from the town administration and directed the health authorities to provide the best possible facilities to the injured woman.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2017.