Apartment building sinks in Jauhar

Two blocks of a residential apartment complex in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Block 10, partially sank into the ground early Tuesday morning, leaving around 300 residents homeless and forced to live under the open sky. Preliminary findings have attributed the deeply distressing incident to possible soil erosion caused by a nearby drain.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) sealed Blocks C and D of the affected building, known as Yasir Terrace, declaring them unsafe for living. Residents have been barred from re-entering the flats to retrieve essential belongings, despite widespread appeals.

Displaced residents - including women, children, and the elderly - are encamped out in the open within the residential complex premises, without any official support or relief from the government. No temporary shelter, food, or medical assistance has been provided so far, although a welfare organisation, Al-Khidmat Foundation, has stepped in to provide clean water and food to the affected families.

Said Qazi Akbar, a resident of the building, voiced his anguish over the situation. "We're left with nothing. The authorities have sealed our homes and won't let us even collect essential items. It's raining and we're sitting under the sky — where are we supposed to go? He told The Express Tribune.

According to initial accounts, the incident occurred at around 5:30am on Tuesday when a loud explosion startled residents of Yasir Terrace. Panicked residents rushed out of their flats, fearing an earthquake. Soon after, the ground floor of Blocks C and D began to sink, causing visible cracks and structural damage. Windows shattered and parts of the buildings buckled under pressure.

"Residents had been complaining of gas leakage for days. It's still too early to confirm whether the collapse was due to a gas explosion or the weakening of the foundation caused by the adjacent drain," said Muhammad Ashfaq, a union committee member of Yasir Terrace Phase 2.

Following the incident, Rescue 1122, police, and local officials responded swiftly. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) sealed both buildings after a technical inspection, with police securing the site. Assistant Commissioner Syed Aamir confirmed that rapid water flow likely weakened the foundation. Residents may retrieve belongings only after formal clearance.

Though Blocks A and B appear stable, further inspection is needed. Over 70 nearby homes were evacuated due to continued rainfall and visible land damage. A nearby road has also been compromised.

Displaced families are urging the Sindh government and SBCA to provide temporary shelter.