Compensation sought over wall collapse on doctors' houses

Several residences, vehicles damaged in the incident during recent rain

KARACHI:

The recent spell of heavy rainfall has exposed yet another instance of civic negligence, this time inside the city's largest government-run health facility. On August 19, the boundary wall of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Centre (PAEC) — located within the premises of JPMC — collapsed onto the Doctors' Colony, leaving a trail of destruction.

Several residences and vehicles belonging to doctors were damaged in the incident. JPMC Director Dr Shahid Rasool has termed the collapse "sheer negligence and carelessness" on the part of the Atomic Energy Centre administration. In a letter addressed to the Karachi commissioner on August 26, Dr Rasool said the disaster had caused "serious material loss" to doctors living in the colony and urged immediate compensation.

Residents allege that the Atomic Energy Centre failed to make proper drainage arrangements, which resulted in rainwater gushing into their homes after the wall caved in. "All our electronic appliances were destroyed when the water entered our residences," Dr Naseer Ahmed told The Express Tribune. He added that the centre's management had not taken any responsibility for the damage. The JPMC director has requested the commissioner to survey the destruction and arrange financial relief for the affectees.