One worker killed, six injured as under-construction plaza roof collapses in Multan

According to eyewitnesses 10 to 15 labourers were working at site at time of incident

MULTAN:

At least one labourer was killed and six others were injured after the roof of an under-construction plaza collapsed near NCBA University on Northern Bypass in Multan on Tuesday, according to Rescue 1122.

As per the rescue service, eight people were trapped under the rubble, of which seven were pulled out. The six injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, Rescue 1122 said, adding that personnel remained engaged in the search for the eighth labourer.

The deceased was identified as 38-year-old Rashid, while the injured were identified as Qadeer, Tauqeer, Hafeez, Shahzad, Amir, and Abdullah. According to Rescue 1122, four of the injured individuals sustained deep head injuries and were in critical condition.

The rescue service also noted that according to eyewitnesses, between 10 and 15 labourers were working at the construction site when the roof collapsed. It added that a total of 10 emergency vehicles were deployed, including five ambulances, three rescue motorbikes, one rescue vehicle and one fire vehicle. A heavy contingent of police was also present at the site.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.

Read: Families of children killed in Peshawar school roof collapse demand justice

On October 15, at least 30 children and a female teacher were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, while more than 50 others were injured. police registered a case against the owners, shareholders, and contractor of the private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, where the roofs collapsed.

Earlier, in June, 14 children were killed and eight others were injured after the roof of a tuition centre collapsed in Lahore's Kahna area. 12 of the children who died were between the ages of five and nine, while the remaining two girls were aged 11 and 16. The injured included a 30-year-old woman and four girls between the ages of seven and 11.

The collapsed roof had reportedly been constructed using T-iron girders and tiles. After the incident, police registered a criminal case against the property owners and a construction worker under Sections 322 and 337-H of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relate to causing death by negligence and causing hurt through a rash or negligent act.