Tragic mishap: Woman dies as wall collapses in Larkana

SUKKUR:

Nazul Younis Kori’s visit to the Benazir Income Support Programme to collect her monthly stipend proved fatal as a wall collapsed and buried her.

She was among a large number of women, who had come to the Larkana education director’s office at Wagan Road in Larkana on Wednesday, when a wall came crashing down. Nazul died and nine others were injured as women fell off the first floor and were buried under the debris.

The office of the BISP regional director is on the first floor of the education director office near the police training school. The building is a worn-out structure that needed major repairs. Besides the BISP office, the payment centre of a private bank is also set up in the building to serve the benefactors of the social welfare scheme.

The dilapidated wall on the first floor collapsed due to a stampede, witnesses said. The women injured were taken to the emergency ward of Chandka Medical College Hospital, where Nazul, who lived in Nazar Muhalla, succumbed to her injuries.



The injured women included Mumtaz Mirani, Sakina Rind, Begum Khatoon Hakro, Sudheran Korai, Sughran juj, Sassui Juj, Hazaran Khatoon and Bakhtawar Gopang. The doctors said that three of these women were in critical condition.

Later, Larkana deputy commissioner Asadullah Abro visited the site and ordered an inquiry. He asked the BISP officials to shift their office at a suitable place.  He also advised them to open payment centres in other banks too to avoid rush of women at a single place.

The BISP regional director, Abida Pathan, could not be reached for comments.

BISP assistant director Israr Ahmed admitted the building was not in a good condition and its upper floors required renovations. “[But] we don’t have our own accommodation,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2013.