At least three people killed in Karachi Machhar Colony building collapse

Around 17 people said to be injured after gas cylinders explode in shop on ground floor

KARACHI:

At least three people including a minor girl died and 17 others were injured on Monday after a residential building in Karachi’s Machhar Colony collapsed following a gas cylinder explosion in a shop on the ground floor.

The deceased were identified as 45-year-old Ameen and Ulfat, whereas the identity of the third person was still unknown.

The injured were identified as Syed Noor, Alam, Hameed, Noor Hussain, Farooq Fazal Haq, Abdul Ameen and three-year-old Shahzadi. Names of three injured children and a man were not yet known.

According to the police, the explosion occurred near Bait Ul Mukarram Masjid, Jaafar Chowk, in Machhar Colony. The blast occurred when the cylinders were being shifted from a pick-up van into the shop.

SSP Arif Aslam Rao informed the media that an initial explosion in a gas cylinder led to a chain reaction, and others stored in the shop also exploded.

He added that around seven to eight people got injured after being hit by debris, whereas the rest got injured by the explosion.

The police official stated that a rescue operation was still ongoing, and it was unclear how many people were still under the rubble.

SSP Rao requested the residents around the building to stay clear of the site of the explosion, and not hinder rescue efforts.

Area residents informed the media that the owner of the building was a former councillor named Noor-ul-Islam Haqqani. Two of his daughters also lived in the building with their respective families, whereas two more families also resided there.