Yet another building caves in Karachi

Casualties avoided as most most factory workers had stepped out for lunch break

KARACHI:

A labourer was injured on Monday when in the third incident of building collapse in the city, a double-storey factory in SITE Industrial Area caved in. No other casualties were reported.

Most of the workers had stepped out for their lunch break when the factory, located near Siemens Chowrangi, partially collapsed. Rescue teams arrived as area locals began ad hoc efforts amid fears of labourers trapped under the rubble.

A portion of a factory in Karachi’s SITE industrial area has collapsed. Factory workers are feared to have stuck under the debris of fallen building
pic.twitter.com/Wq0Xq4sDBG

— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) September 21, 2020

The injured, identified as Mustaqeem, was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable.

'Crumbling structure'

Speaking to The Express Tribune, one of the workers at the factory said that the building was deteriorating and the labourers had complained to the building owner, Amin, but had received no response.

According to the worker, Amin rented out the factory for manufacturing purposes. Different departments worked on different products and materials, such as threads, polythene bags, water coolers, garment and stitching and so on, at the factory. He confirmed that most of the workers were out when the factory caved in as it was lunch break at the time.

At risk

Later, Karachi Administrator Iftikhar Shalwani visited the site and oversaw the rescue operation. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) urban search and rescue teams and the fire department were directed to assist the Sindh Police and Rangers in rescue efforts.

Speaking to the media, Shallwani said that the injured labourer is under treatment and in stable condition.

Weak and dilapidated buildings in Karachi have become a hazard for citizens, said Shallwani, adding that committees have been set up, under deputy commissioners, and are surveying all residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

The newly-appointed city administrator further added that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant authorities are at the site. SBCA teams will carry out surveys of buildings in the SITE Area and if any building is found to be weak or at risk, it will be vacated and razed down, said Shallwani.

He appealed to citizens to vacate deteriorating buildings and maintained that the owner of the caved in factory building will charged.

Third in a month

Earlier this month, at least six people were killed and several others injured when part of a building in Lyari's Bihar Colony and another building in Korangi collapsed within the same week.

During the rescue operation, recently-appointed Karachi Commissioner Sohail Rajput had said that all structures weakened in the aftermath of recent monsoon rains would be vacated after a survey, while all illegal construction would be halted and legal action taken against those involved. All weakened structures would be identified in a list that shall be advertised once prepared, the commissioner had assured. SBCA teams had also inspected the sites.