Eight of a family among 11 killed during rain
A rescuer inspects debris on the spot where the roof and walls of a building collapsed after downpour in Faisalabad. Such incidents continue unabated in Punjab, causing damage to property as rains lash the region. PHOTO: EXPRESS
At least 11 people including eight members of a family lost their lives as the roofs of their houses collapsed due to heavy monsoon rains on Tuesday.
At least 16 persons were injured in the incidents and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment by rescue personnel.
A village in Bahlik went into mourning as a mother and her children along with three others passed away when the roof collapsed on top of them.
The roof of a house owned by two brothers Ashraf and Zafar Ali in Mouza Thatta Beg, Mohalla Dhup Sariyan, area of Bahlak Police Station collapsed as heavy downpour lashed the locale early morning.
As a result, 40-year-old Ghulam Fatima and her 12-year-old son Khurram, 17-year-old daughter Kaneez Bibi, 15-year-old son Mahindi Hassan and Zafar Ali’s 17-year-old daughter Bushran Bibi, 15-year-old Janat Bibi, 12-year-old Yasir Ali, 14-year-old Farzana died under the rubble owing to severe injuries. Meanwhile, 90-year-old Anwar Bibi, wife of Qasim, and 18-year-old Nasir were rushed to hospital by Rescue 1122 staff after immediate medical aid.
Grief took over the entire locality as the death of eight family members was confirmed by the Rescue 1122 teams and the villagers gathered on the spot to mourn their deaths.
In another incident, the roof of the house of brick kiln worker Wariam collapsed in Kanak Kalan area in Dijkot Police Station limits, resulting in the death of his 9-year-old daughter Naseem, 17-year-old Saira Bibi and 13-year-old son Rizwan, while Maria, 18, Manahel, 8, Nasreen Bibi, 42, the wife of Wariam, and Muhammad Boota, 45, were injured.
Dijkot police reached the spot on information and handed over the bodies of the victims to the heirs after completing legal formalities.
On the other hand, Rescue 1122 personnel retrieved the injured from the wreckage and shifted them to Civil Hospital in Faisalabad.
In the past, victims of roof collapse have often been permanently disabled owing to the severe injuries suffered by them during such accidents.
Faisalabad District Emergency Officer (DEO) Ehtesham Wahla revealed that 377 cases of roof collapse were reported in the district between January 1, 2017 and July 20 this year. Of these, 113 occurred when a wall or weak roof collapsed during construction. In total, as many as 749 people were affected by the incidents.
According to statistics, 208 people between the ages of 11 and 20, 134 between the ages of 31 and 40, 104 people between the ages of 41 and 50 and 26 over the age of 60 were among the victims.
“At least 166 people were provided first aid on the spot while 543 people were shifted to nearby hospitals,” the DEO said, adding, “Of them, 165 suffered more than two injuries and 242 suffered severe head injuries.”
Ehtesham Wahla told The Express Tribune that as many as 13 cases of roof collapse were caused as a result of excessive load on them.
He advised the citizens to undertake safety precautions particularly during rain to avoid any misfortune.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2020.