Six family members die in Lahore roof collapse

A wall of a three-storey house collapses on the roof of a one-storey house

LAHORE:

At least six members of a family died and four others sustained injuries after the roof of a house in Lahore's Texali Market collapsed on Tuesday. 

According to Express News, a dilapidated wall of a three-storey house collapsed on the roof of a one-storey house. Rescue officials rushed to the site after the incident and shifted the casualties to a nearby hospital, however, efforts were hampered due to narrow and congested streets of the area.

The victims, including children, were identified as Javed (50 years), Javed (60 years), Zaigham (56 years), Amna (16 years), Hassan (seven years) and Babu Ishtiaq (two years).

The grandfather of the deceased children said the owner of the three-storey house was asked several times to repair the dilapidated wall but did not do so.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and demanded a report from the commissioner Lahore division.

Earlier, it was reported that heavy monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Punjab and resulted in an average four roof collapse and eight drowning incidents daily in August in Punjab.

Data compiled by Punjab Emergency Service (PES) Rescue 1122 available with The Express Tribune showed that at least 140 incidents of building collapse and 254 of drowning emergencies were reported in Punjab during last month.

The Rescue 1122 report further revealed that the highest number of cases of building collapse was reported in Lahore and Faisalabad. In Lahore 18 and in Faisalabad 14 buildings collapsed due to rainfall. Besides, the most drowning emergencies were reported in Gujranwala where 13 people died in 20 cases.