Another building at risk of collapsing in Timber Market

Meanwhile, efforts for clearing debris, accumulated due to the collapse of six-storey building, are underway

KARACHI: Just a day after a six-story building collapsed and was reduced to rubble in Timber Market, on Monday night, fear arose of another building in the same area likely to suffer the same fate.

A four-storey building located on Bandook Wala Road, near Old Haji Camp, is identified to have a crumbling structure. Cracks have appeared on the building's pillars and walls as is it is feared to collapse, also causing damage to other structures situated adjacent to it.

However, despite being warned of the looming disaster, the building's inhabitants have refused to vacate their houses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, All Pakistan Timber Traders Association Chairperson Muhammad Sharjeel Goplani said that the building was constructed in 2004 and housed eight apartments that are mostly inhabited by labourers.

Claiming that the Sindh Building Control Authority had been informed about the building derelict condition, he said that so far, SBCA officials had not taken any measures in this regard and no officials from the department had visited the site to inspect the building.

Raising concerns over the crumbling state of the building, Goplani said that if the building collapsed, lives could be lost and the residents were to suffer from financial loss as well. Revealing that the building was illegally constructed on a footpath, he stressed the need to raze it and appealed to the relevant authorities to take immediate measures so as to avoid any untoward occurrence.

Meanwhile, removal of debris, accumulated following the collapse of a six-storey building in the area, was initiated Monday night, after lights were installed at the location. The clearing work continued throughout the day on Tuesday.

As a result of the collapse, 24 families have been left homeless.

The affected families lamented their loss, saying that they were deprived of the shelter of their homes and weren't able to retrieve their belongings from under the rubble. Each of the apartment inside the building cost between Rs3 million and Rs4 million, they said, and questioned that who would compensate for their loss.

"I had managed to save Rs600,000, pooling funds in a committee, but all that money is now lost under the debris," said a woman, who asked not to be named. "

The affected families have appealed to the government to help them recover the loss.

Meanwhile, SBCA has set up a seven-member committee, headed by SBCA additional director general, to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to identify the reasons behind the collapse, material used for its construction as well as how the approval was given for its construction. It has been given 15 days to complete the investigation and submit a report to SBCA director general.

Police and rescue teams have been deployed at the place of the incident and political parties have set up camps to provide relief to the displaced persons.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2020.