Five dead in building collapse

Five people were killed and multiple others injured when a double storey under-construction house collapsed in Shah Faisal Colony on Wednesday. The house, owned by Wazir, a resident of Orangi Town, came crashing down in morning hours while labourers were working there.

The local community immediately started removing the rubble to pull out the people trapped underneath. However, the heavy machinery required for the rescue operation arrived at the site one and a half hours after the tragedy.

Mohammad Saqib, SHO Shah Faisal Colony police station, identified those buried alive under the debris as 70-year-old Abdul Ghaffar, son of Ali Hassan, 30-year-old Naseer Ahmad, son of Mohammad Anwar, and 37-year-old Mohammad Kashif, son of Mehmoob Ali Shah, 26-year-old Asfar, and Sikandar, son of Bachaoo.

Two workers miraculously survived the incident. The bodies were shifted to the JPMC, while search for more survivors and bodies is ongoing.

Abdul Ghaffar was a resident of Shah Faisal Colony, and earned his living by vending food and drinks. The other two victims, Naseer and Kashif, were labourers.

Local residents have pointed out that the under-construction house had shown signs of structural instability for some time as water stagnated in its foundations. They also noted that the roof was made of tile and beams, with no supporting pillars, which led to its sudden collapse.

The residents reported that the owner had purchased it as an 80-yard under-construction property for Rs7 million before selling half of the portion for Rs3 million. Additional construction work was being carried out on the remaining 40 yards, with the intention of renting it out. The owner, Wazir, was present at the site before the collapse but had left shortly before the incident occurred.

Dr Abid, Director of Operations for Rescue 1122, stated that they mobilised all available machinery and personnel to rescue those buried under the debris. "Oxygen cylinders are being used to aid in saving anyone trapped," he added.

Korangi's Deputy Commissioner Syed Jawad Muzaffar said that the incident was reported at 10:30 in the morning. Immediate action was taken, with the assistant commissioner, police, and other officials calling in Rescue 1122, the Fire Brigade, and ambulances to retrieve the trapped people. "Despite the challenges posed by a large crowd of onlookers, rescue operations will continue until all individuals are safely removed from the rubble," he added.

Muzaffar expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered various departments, including the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), to conduct a comprehensive district-wide survey of such constructions, promising legal action against any non-compliant structures. He said that the owner and contractor of the collapsed house would also be arrested for legal action.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2023.