Reduced to rubble: House collapse in Neelam Colony claims two lives

No rescue vehicles could reach the spot

KARACHI: It was 12:30am on Wednesday when Tariq, a resident of Neelam Colony, heard a deafening blast. He rushed outside and could see nothing but dust for a little while and people screaming for help. As soon as the dust settled down, he saw a house - constructed on a 40-square-yard-plot just next to his place - completely collapsed.

"There were screams of people. Loud screams," he says with a shaky voice, adding that the entire neighbourhood was helpless as they were unable to remove the rubble. The streets of Neelam Colony are not wider than five feet. Because of this, Tariq pointed out, no rescue vehicles were able to reach the spot.

Ambulances started piling up outside the colony and the drivers of Edhi and Chhipa poured in and started helping the people, shares Tariq. "Soon they were able to rescue a few people with head injuries," he says, adding that one woman was rescued dead while her husband, Azeem Sadiq, later expired in the hospital.

There were two families residing in the house, which was in a very rickety state, says Tariq. "It was only a cemented house over which the owner of the house constructed another floor, which collapsed."

When The Express Tribune visited the collapsed house, a picture of Sadiq was lying on a cemented slab at one side. The kitchen with the wall of another house was fine with utensils placed along with a juicing machine.

In one corner, clothes were strewn about and a green teddy bear, with wide eyes, stared out from the rubble.

According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) chief fire officer Tehseen Siddiqi, their fire brigade reached the spot on time. However, due to the narrow streets, they failed to get inside. "Luckily, there was no fire incident and our rescue staff helped in removing the rubble. When such incidents occur in such congested areas, rescue work cannot take place and lives are lost."

Meanwhile, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), under whose jurisdiction this house was constructed, was seen nowhere. According to another resident of the area, Farhan, the SBCA never notified the house as dangerous neither did their team ever visit the area for inspection. SBCA's director for Saddar Town did not respond to repeated phone calls.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2017.