Balcony of ancient building collapses

Early closure of Burns Road Food Street saved lives

KARACHI:

A balcony of over a century three-story building on the corner of Burns Road Food Street came crashing to the ground late on Saturday night.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported due to early closure of the bustling haunt of foodies where groups of families and friends dine in open air till early hours, police and rescue officials said.

Two famous restaurants lay their tables exactly at the spot where the debris fell, waiters told The Express Tribune.

As per a resident, luckily, the government's move to close the restaurants at 11pm saved several lives on Burns Road Food Street. The balcony of over a 100-year-old building fell down an hour after police squads made rounds on mobiles to forcibly close the restaurants and eateries.

The incident occurred at the corner of Street No1 at Burns Road Food Street within the limits of Aram Bagh police station. The sound was so loud that it was heard around the whole neighbourhood. On hearing the loud thud, the shopkeepers of Food Street and the area residents converged there.

Bhai Ji, a resident of the area, said that if the business had not been closed at 11pm, there would have been a loss of lives.

He added that most buildings around Burns Road Food Street are from the British era.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2022.