Public safety: Two dead, four injured in roof collapse

A recent CDGL survey had identified 367 unfit buildings

LAHORE: Two siblings died and four others and their mother were injured in a roof collapse in Gujjarpura area on Saturday.

A Rescue 1122 official identified the deceased as seven-year-old Nisa and three-year-old Daim.

A neighbour who volunteered for the rescue effort said the collapse near Nooray Shah Darbar occured during rain on Saturday morning. He said he heard a blast and rushed out to find out that the roof of the house where Kamal Masih and his family were living had collapsed, trapping the family under the debris. He said rescue efforts had been started by the time the teams of Rescue 1122 and Edhi Ambulance Service reached the spot. He said Nisa and Daim had died when they were taken out from under the debris. He said four other children and their mother were taken to Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital.

Lahore DCO Capt (r) Usman also visited the scene and supervised the rescue work. Speaking to the media later, he said it appeared that the roof of the house had grown weak due to seepage of rain water.

In a recent survey, the CDGL had identified 367 buildings in its jurisdiction that were unfit for use. A press statement released after a meeting to review monsoon arrangements last week had stated that warnings were issued to the occupants to either vacate the buildings or get them repaired. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2015.