At least one killed, two injured as portion of building collapses in Karachi

CM Murad takes notice of the incident, seeking report from Sindh Building Control Authority

KARACHI:

At least one person died, and two others were injured after a portion of a two-storey building collapsed near the New Nazimabad Flyover on Manghopir Road in Karachi, Rescue 1122 said on Thursday.

According to the rescue service, the roof of a small confectionery shop located at a street corner near Shabbir Medical collapsed during ongoing construction work.

It said three people had been rescued from the debris and shifted to the hospital. The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Abdul Bari, son of Abdul Aziz.

Rescue officials expressed concern that more people might be trapped beneath the rubble, adding that search and rescue operations were underway to locate and recover any remaining victims.

Read More: Security guard killed as under-construction bridge structure collapses in Gulshan-e-Iqbal

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the collapse of a portion and directed the authorities to expedite rescue operations to remove the debris.

The chief minister also directed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical treatment and sought a report on the incident from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

“What were the causes of the incident, and was there any negligence?” the chief minister asked, directing the authorities to provide details.

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, hospital authorities confirmed.

Speaking to the media, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar, Dr Mian Saeed, said the school’s roof had been poorly constructed and that the building was located in narrow streets, which had made rescue operations difficult, adding that a total of 110 children were enrolled at the school.

Read more: 16 killed in Karachi building collapse after gas cylinder blast

CCPO Saeed further told media that the three-storey building was located in the densely populated Dir Colony, where narrow streets were creating difficulties for rescue operations. He said the building fell within the jurisdiction of the relevant local police station and that 30 children had been present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed.

He added that the building had several deficiencies and that the roof slab had been constructed using choka- thin, flat clay tiles or custom-tapered bricks. CCPO Saeed said that the building was in a dangerous condition and posed a risk of further damage.

On October 1, an under-construction bridge structure that was part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project collapsed near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, killing a security guard.