British High Commissioner condoles Lyari building tragedy
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott. Photo : Facebook/UK in Pakistan
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has expressed deep sorrow over the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Lyari, Karachi, which claimed the lives of at least 27 people and injured 10 others.
In a message posted on X, Marriott said she was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Lyari following the collapse of a residential building” and extended her condolences to the affected families.
She also praised the “brave rescue workers who are working tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions.”
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Lyari after the collapse of a residential building. My thoughts are with the families and brave rescue workers who have worked tirelessly in the most difficult conditions.
A 50-hour-long search and rescue operation in the Baghdadi area of Lyari — where a five-storey residential building collapsed on Friday morning — concluded on Sunday, with 27 confirmed deaths and 10 injuries.
“Twenty-seven people lost their lives in the Lyari tragedy, while eleven others were injured. Among the deceased are eleven women and sixteen men, including a one-and-a-half-year-old girl,” confirmed the Civil Hospital administration.
The report states that 26 bodies were brought to the hospital, while 55-year-old Fatima succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
“Of the injured, ten people were discharged after receiving medical treatment. However, 30-year-old Sanatia remains under treatment,” it stated.
The list further noted that most of the injured sustained head injuries in the incident. Many of the deceased belong to the Hindu community.
Read More: Karachi’s Lyari building collapse claims 27 lives as rescue operation concludes
In the aftermath of the collapse, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) registered a case at Kalri Police Station against the builder and an unnamed contractor. The FIR alleges the use of substandard materials and illegal construction practices, endangering residents’ lives and necessitating the building’s sealing.
Deputy Commissioner South announced that if any government officials are found complicit, legal proceedings will follow. He also assured support for victims to recover financial losses from the builder.
Authorities have identified more than 50 buildings across Lyari as structurally unsafe, with six already evacuated since the incident, according to Khoso. The tragedy has once again highlighted long-standing concerns over illegal construction and lax enforcement in the city’s underprivileged neighbourhoods.