Teenagers die in building collapse
Rescue workers cut through rebar in an attempt to extricate the victims of a roof collapse in Lahore. Photo: online/FILE
A two-storey building collapsed in Dharamkot Khas, a town on the outskirts of Daska, killing two teenagers who were buried under the debris.
On getting information, local rescue vehicles and firefighters reached the spot and started a rescue operation.
Later, a special rescue vehicle and an ambulance from Gujranwala district also reached the spot.
The District Emergency Officer, Naveed Iqbal, also reached the spot and commanded the operation himself.
After over three hours of struggle, the rescuers pulled out the bodies from under the debris.
The deceased were identified as Abdullah, 18, and Hasnain, 16. The teenagers belonged to poor working class families.
Hasnain had three brothers and five sisters while Abdullah a brother and two sisters.
Six rescue emergency vehicles participated in the operation. Chaos was created in the area after people heard the news of the death of two teenagers.
It was said that the house was built only a month ago.
Local people alleged that poor materials were used in the construction of the house due to which, first the upper part of the house collapsed and then the lower floor also collapsed.
The funeral prayers of the teenagers were offered in their native village Dharamkot.
A large number of people participated in the funeral prayers.
In 2021, six members of a family had died after the roof of a house collapsed in Shadbagh in Lahore.
The victims included women and children and the family had been living in the house situated off the Imam Ghazali Road, Wasanpura, for the last six years.
Construction work had been going on the first floor. The ground floor’s roof was made of girders.
The family members had been asleep at midnight when suddenly the construction area collapsed and fell on the roof of the ground floor. It could not sustain the burden and caved in with a heavy thud.
The family members had gotten trapped under the debris. The roof collapse had spread confusion and panic in the neighbourhood. The local people had rushed towards the site.
The site of the accident was covered with dust and debris.
Rescuers had rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The teams of the urban search and rescue unit had taken part in the operation.
To remove the debris, the rescuers had to cut the grills with heavy cutters to get access to the victims.
After hectic efforts, they had made a way to get to the victims.
The victims had been evacuated and shifted to the Kot Khawaja Saed Hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2023.