Unsafe building razed, residents evacuated

The residential building had developed cracks in its structure, started leaning to one side

KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) began the demolition of a three-storey residential building in Kausar Niaz Colony on Monday, after declaring it unsafe the previous night.

The residential building, situated in North Nazimabad within the limits of Taimuria police station, had developed cracks in its structure and begun leaning to one side.

The weakening of the building's foundations had sparked fears of collapse. As a result, fire department vehicles, police, Rangers and representatives of local bodies arrived at the building and evacuated all the residents from the premises on Sunday night.

An SBCA team inspected the building the following morning and started dismantling the precarious structure in the presence of the police and Rangers.

According to area residents, the building was constructed around 12 years ago on a plot that was earlier used as a dumping ground for garbage. The residents maintained that they had repeatedly informed the authorities about a tilt in the building structure, but no action was taken.

The building had reportedly been sold three times since it was first constructed, they added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2020.