Building collapse kills one

A three-storey building near Landa Bazaar collapsed after its roof gave way, killing one person who was trapped under the rubble on Friday, officials and rescuers said.

The hall-like three-storey building near Chittian Hattian, Landa Bazaar, was reportedly constructed before Partition. Its top-floor roof collapsed onto the roof of the second floor, which was unable to bear the additional weight and subsequently collapsed on to the roof of the first floor, bringing the entire structure down.

A Rescue 1122 team reached the site immediately after receiving the information.

It was initially feared that two people were trapped beneath the rubble.

Following a rescue operation, a man identified as Rizwan was recovered from underneath the debris. Although he had no apparent external injuries, rescuers found no vital signs.

Paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shifted him to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi District Emergency Officer Engineer Sibghat Ullah said the walls of the building remained intact, while all three roofs collapsed one after another, causing the structure to cave in.

He added that only one person was present inside the building at the time of the incident.