Four labourers died and 21 were injured when a building being demolished by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) collapsed in Johar Town on Friday.
LDA officials said some of the labourers had been brought on daily wages to demolish a plastic pipe factory at Johar Town on BOR Road (close to the Johar Town Banquet Hall) on Thursday.
An LDA official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that on Friday the labourers were sent to the second floor of the building. He said the floor was being broken without taking adequate precautionary measures. They said the two-storey building was poorly constructed and caved in at around 10 am.
On record, LDA officials said that 25 laborers were trapped under the debris and Rescue 1122 officials were called in. Rescue officials said that three bodies and 22 injured men were pulled out from the debris in a four hour operation. They said the injured were rushed to Jinnah Hospital. One of the labourers died at the hospital while three others remained critical condition.
Officials said that two of the deceased were identified as Bashir Hussain and Muhammad Hussain while two others were still unidentified.
An LDA official said the building, under commercial use, had been built illegally on a plot which was an open space according to the original plan. It was served notice for evacuation and demolition 14 days ago and a final notice was delivered two days ago.
An LDA official said the four lives were lost due to negligence of LDA officials in-charge of the demolition. They said that had precautionary measure been taken this incident could have been avoided.
LDA Director General Abdul Jabbar Shaheen suspended four LDA officers including Buildings director Malik Ahmad Nawaz, EME director Abdur Razzaq, Town Planning deputy director Azhar Ali and Town Planning director Afraz Akhter Assistant Director.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced compensation of Rs0.5 million each for families of the deceased. The severely wounded will be paid Rs0.1 million whereas those with minor injuries will get Rs50,000 each.
The LDA director general distributed the cheques among the injured, who were under treatment at Jinnah Hospital on Friday evening. The DG also constituted an inquiry committee and directed it to furnish its report within 24 hours. Persons held responsible will be duly prosecuted after the report. The LDA director general has set up a facilitation centre at Jinnah Hospital for ensuring proper treatment of the injured.
He has also established a blood donation camp at the LDA office in Johar Town.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.
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