<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk/feed/tag/building-collapse" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk/feed/tag/building-collapse</link>
                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 Oct 26 19:25:57 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>Is Karachi prepared for disaster?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555609/is-karachi-prepared-for-disaster</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555609/is-karachi-prepared-for-disaster#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 25 23:28:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Aamir Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2555609</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The collapse of a five-storey building in Lyari has once again exposed the deep rot in Karachi’s urban governance]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The collapse of a five-storey residential building in Lyari&rsquo;s Baghdadi area on July 12, which claimed at least 27 lives and injured many more, has once again exposed the deep rot in Karachi&rsquo;s urban governance and disaster preparedness.

Despite official warnings, the building remained occupied. Its eventual collapse met with scenes of chaos, delayed rescue effort, and overwhelmed emergency responders navigating narrow alleys with inadequate equipment.

While volunteers and rescuers did their best under dire circumstances, the tragedy underscored a grim reality: if one crumbling structure can stretch Karachi&rsquo;s rescue system to its limits, what would happen in the event of a major earthquake or citywide emergency?

Rescue and relief system inadequate 

In the event of a major earthquake or any natural disaster causing the collapse of multiple buildings in Karachi, the city&rsquo;s rescue and relief infrastructure is alarmingly insufficient. At the provincial, district, or municipal level, there is virtually no comprehensive or fully functional disaster management system in place.

Currently, under KMC and Rescue 1122, only two Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) wings are active in Karachi. These wings comprise over 150 trained personnel, but are equipped with limited machinery and resources. There is no district-level disaster management department, and no established communication system between various rescue and relief organizations. This lack of coordination was evident during the recent Lyari tragedy, where delays and mismanagement were reported during rescue operations.

Illegal construction and poor regulations

Mohammad Tauheed, Urban Planner and Co-Director at Karachi Urban Lab (IBA), citing media reports, shared that a five-storey building collapsed in Baghdadi, Lyari, killing 27 people and injuring nine. He highlighted that Karachi has become a jungle of illegal constructions over the past two decades, and these continue unchecked.

The most dangerous trend, he said, is the construction of multi-storey illegal flats on small plots of 40, 60, or 80 square yards, often with multiple cramped portions per floor, some so poorly designed that natural light and ventilation are nonexistent.

The rescue operation at Lyari took more than 50 hours to complete. Tauheed noted that with Karachi&rsquo;s estimated population nearing 30 million. At the same time, the official census puts it at 20.3 million, the city&rsquo;s rescue and relief capabilities are dangerously inadequate for its size and density.

A city at seismic risk

Karachi recently experienced mild tremors, causing no damage, but seismologists warn of potential stronger quakes. Should multiple buildings collapse, the absence of a functional disaster response mechanism at the town or district level would spell disaster. The USAR and other facilities are insufficient. Equipment is lacking, staff numbers are low, and any large-scale catastrophe could take days or weeks to manage.

Tauheed recommends that a Town Level Disaster Management Authority (TDMA) be established in each of Karachi&rsquo;s 25 towns. This would allow a localised and rapid response. Furthermore, all rescue staff must be trained to international standards, and KMC should house a central disaster management unit that coordinates with town authorities.

&lsquo;60,000 illegal buildings exist&rsquo;

Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), Hassan Bakhshi, estimated that 60,000 illegally constructed buildings exist in Karachi, and more than 600 structures are dangerously dilapidated. He called for stricter laws and effective implementation to halt illegal constructions. He also expressed readiness to support any government initiative to resettle residents from unsafe buildings.

Bakhshi revealed that between 2017 and 2025, Karachi witnessed 12 building collapses, claiming around 150 lives. He identified two major causes: structurally unsafe (dilapidated) buildings and illegal constructions. &ldquo;When a building is declared unsafe, the plot owner benefits this perverse incentive; this needs to end,&rdquo; he warned.

He proposed a three-phase action plan, a city-wide structural survey by independent experts, immediate repair of salvageable buildings, and reconstruction of those beyond repair under strict legal obligation. Bakhshi alleged that around 85,000 buildings in Karachi have been illegally extended, blaming the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and municipal bodies for facilitating the corruption. He warned that the city could face catastrophe if an earthquake were to strike, given the poor quality and unsafe structures. Calling SBCA a &ldquo;symbol of corruption&rdquo;, he demanded the authority be split into two departments, engineering and approvals, and urged that cases against negligent builders and officials be heard in anti-terrorism courts due to the life-threatening implications of their actions.

Referring to the Lyari tragedy, ABAD demanded, Rs. 2.5 million in compensation for families of the deceased, Rs. 1 million for those left homeless and an independent investigation, excluding SBCA and municipal officers. ABAD also offered to assist the Sindh government in identifying and rehabilitating unsafe structures. Bakhshi further criticised the Malir Development Authority (MDA) for collecting Rs. 25 billion without handing over plots in 30 years.

Reaffirming ABAD&rsquo;s commitment, Bakhshi stated, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re ready to rebuild all dilapidated buildings in 700 days,&rdquo; and urged the Sindh government to launch housing schemes similar to those announced in Punjab.

Senior Vice Chairman for ABAD, Syed Afzal Hameed, echoed these concerns, citing administrative negligence at the Lyari collapse site and the unchecked rise of illegal constructions even in cantonment areas. They also raised alarms about Karachi&rsquo;s long-stalled master plan, land corruption, and judicial inaction, warning that without bold, systemic reforms, the city&rsquo;s housing crisis will only deepen.

KMC&rsquo;s response: limited but modernising

Chief Fire and Rescue Officer of KMC, Humayun Khan, stated that after the 2005 Margalla Towers collapse in Islamabad, USAR units were formed nationwide. Karachi&rsquo;s USAR team, a collaboration between KMC and NDMA, was the first to meet international standards.

The team includes 88 trained personnel, equipped with radars, sensors, and life-detection cameras to locate survivors trapped under rubble. Their headquarters also houses a training school and three sub-units, supported by 200+ volunteers. KMC has five snorkels to rescue people trapped in high-rises and is expanding its services under Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

Rescue 1122: working to international standards

Spokesperson Hassan ul Haseeb of Rescue 1122 Sindh explained that their Urban Search and Rescue wing operates under international UN guidelines. Punjab&rsquo;s 1122 team was the first in South Asia to be globally certified.

Karachi&rsquo;s 1122 USAR team includes 55 personnel, led by Commander Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a globally certified trainer. In the Lyari tragedy, his team led operations using advanced tools like search cameras, life detectors, and radar-based systems to detect and rescue trapped individuals. The team also uses cutting tools, hydraulic equipment, and drills for debris removal.

Imran-ul-Haq, head of rescue operations at a local welfare organization, pointed out the lack of coordination among rescue agencies during major disasters. He stressed the need for a centralised communication system between all government and private rescue services, citing the Lyari incident as a prime example of this failure.

Currently, over 1,500 ambulances operate in Karachi, run by a mix of government and private organizations, but without a unified response protocol.

A spokesperson for the Sindh Local Government Department revealed that 588 buildings in Karachi have been officially declared dangerous. However, residents are reluctant to vacate. The government is working on a policy to relocate these residents and increase rescue and relief capabilities across the city.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/lyari-building-collapse1752362113-3/lyari-building-collapse1752362113-3.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Architects of collapse: Karachi’s crumbling buildings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555592/architects-of-collapse-karachis-crumbling-buildings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2555592/architects-of-collapse-karachis-crumbling-buildings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 25 23:03:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yusra Salim]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2555592</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The crisis tells a story of systemic neglect, corruption &amp; the complicity of those who profit from vertical expansion]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In Karachi, danger doesn&rsquo;t always lurk in dark alleys or stormy skies &mdash; sometimes, it crashes down from above.

Pakistan&rsquo;s largest city and economic heartbeat has recently witnessed a disturbing trend: buildings collapsing without warning, turning homes into death traps and lives into statistics. At least seven significant building collapses occurred in Karachi between 2020 and mid-2025, killing over 80 people. These are just the catastrophes that have been publicised or became news headlines because dozens of people lost their lives &mdash; there are also innumerable smaller collapses, such as crumbling walls, shattered rooftops, and disintegrating slabs, that happened randomly, fortunately not causing loss of lives, and hence went unreported, uninvestigated, and perhaps still remain unresolved. From the crowded lanes of Lyari to the streets of Saddar that are steeped in tradition, the city&rsquo;s skyline is decaying. A complex network of corruption, tax regulations, and a profit-driven construction mafia is hidden behind the crumbling facade.



&ldquo;Their whole life collapsed along with those bricks,&rdquo; shares Nadeem Shah, a resident of Lyari Baghdadi, who lives two lanes away from the building that collapsed. &ldquo;For years we have warned the builders from time to time, and even the residents, of all of these illegal constructions, but no one ever paid heed.&rdquo;

Shah was also of the view that making extra floors is very common, and residents are equally responsible in this as much as builders. &ldquo;Because of the financial constraints, people keep building floors to accommodate their families when their sons get married, because investing in construction seems better than paying rent for the rest of their lives, especially in low-income areas,&rdquo; he lamented.

Despite repeated warnings, unauthorised structures continue to rise, and aging residential blocks, some over 70 years old, stand vulnerable to the next rainfall or rogue additions. &ldquo;In the last five years, all collapses have happened in residential areas with overcrowded neighbourhoods and almost all of them had extra floors built than allowed,&rdquo; said a former employee at the SBCA, adding that when new construction is done for which the columns/pillars are not ready, and the weight on them increases, it eventually puts pressure on the lower floors and collapses happen.



What&rsquo;s causing the collapses?

Among the several reasons and factors involving these collapses, there are a few aspects that everyone is aware of and are not to be neglected, such as aging and poorly maintained structures, illegal constructions, additional floors and substandard materials.

The majority of the structures in Karachi&rsquo;s Saddar, Kharadar, and Jodia Bazaar neighbourhoods were constructed during the 1940s and 1970s. These structures are crumbling under their weight due to a lack of maintenance. Illegal conversions of two-storey buildings into five-storey flats are occurring; these conversions frequently lack building plans, have poor foundations, and have no safety exits. &ldquo;Each construction and structure has to be made after a map passed by the SBCA in which they mention floor plans, pillars and even ratio of cement and iron used but majority of the constructors do not follow the map even for cement and iron,&rdquo; the SBCA officer mentioned adding that there are officers who after acquiring degrees in civil engineering do the calculations, approve these maps and where they find illegal constructions they even take action, but the responsibility here lies with the builders as to what quality they are using.

The usage of weak iron rods, inferior cement, and even salt-mixed sand has been discovered in post-collapse investigations, resulting in dangerously unstable constructions. Karachi lacks a legal framework for regular inspection or certification, in contrast to cities worldwide where structural audits are required by law. &ldquo;This issue of not following maps and ratio of cement and soil can be resolved for a fraction if the inspectors of each area inspect each construction that has been approved by SBCA, as each area has a designated officer to inspect the buildings,&rdquo; he suggested.

Rusting and foundation rot are caused by dampness and rainwater seepage, particularly in coastal areas such as Clifton, Keamari, and Gizri.



Danger zones

According to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), at the heart of Karachi&rsquo;s collapse crisis is SBCA, which is mandated to approve and oversee building designs. Serious accusations against the agency include lack of accountability after the catastrophe, bribes taken for approvals, fake NOCs, and delayed action against unlawful buildings.

Other than the SBCA and KMC, hand-in-hand work builders and contractors make the very fabric of this city with their architectural responsibilities, but none of them claim the responsibility when a building collapses and there is a loss of lives.

KMC offers municipal supervision and points out unsafe structures, but it lacks the resources and legal authority to take action. These developers, who frequently use frontmen, disappear after selling illegal apartments. The lack of a documented ownership trail in the majority of collapse instances is a legal loophole that renders victims defenceless.



Portion mafia and the rise of vertical slums

Portionisation is an uncontrolled phenomenon that has emerged in Karachi due to the housing demand. &ldquo;Portions initially seem a good idea to accommodate the increasing population,&rdquo; shares architect Tauqeer Ahmed. &ldquo;But it should have been done with proper planning because construction was mainly done in marginalised areas, mostly where each unit was meant to accommodate one family. But now it bears the load of 20-25 families with an increased demand for water, sewerage, parking and other necessities.&rdquo;
What started as joint-family accommodation has turned into a catastrophe for the city. Plots are converted into multi-storey apartments without any safety, sewage, or structural compliance. In the Federal B. Area, Liaquatabad, North Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Korangi, and Gizri/Clifton, these so-called portions are a popular choice. These portions have led to an increase in population, but interestingly, it has resolved the problem of property divisions among a segment of people who couldn&rsquo;t afford to buy separate places. &ldquo;I lived with my in-laws in a 120-yard house which was a two-side, corner, west-open plot,&rdquo; explained Anam Ali. &ldquo;My husband has three brothers. Three years ago, one of the builders contacted my husband and offered us a hefty amount for the house where he planned to build a six-storey building with two apartments on each floor.&rdquo;



They accepted his offer, and asked him to reserve a few apartments for them so they could all have their own space. &ldquo;From the total amount, the builder deducted the cost of four apartments,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;In this way, the four brothers now live separately, so we all have our own houses without having to adjust in a 120-yard house.&rdquo;

The problem in these constructions right now is that it looks great from the outside, but in the long term, the problem of low-quality construction exists because the builders mostly use low-quality material, and their connection with SBCA and other authorities get them approvals. &ldquo;They construct five storeys on a two-storey foundation,&rdquo; says Ahmed. &ldquo;After that, they pay off officials, and vanish, not worrying about the consequences that people may face later. Each portion built on such constructions costs between 2.5 million to 7 million.&rdquo;

Evacuation orders don&rsquo;t do much to help the city&rsquo;s impoverished. The majority of people refused to vacate when SBCA sent notifications to more than 500 structures before the monsoon season in 2024, alleging a lack of evacuation plans, compensation, and alternative accommodation. &ldquo;People don&rsquo;t have anywhere else to go, and they live in that bubble or false belief that the building they live in won&rsquo;t collapse, which is why such incidents claim lives,&rdquo; he explains. Other than the builder mafia, SBCA corruption, and portionisation, Karachi&rsquo;s buildings do not have a computerised registration, history, inspection log, or risk map, which can help in improving the current situation. &ldquo;Construction maps as old as 70 years are in the record of SBCA, and any investigation on the buildings that collapse can be done accordingly to prove that the cement, soil, iron, and ratio that was approved was used or not,&rdquo; reveals an SBCA officer.



What should we do?

To curb the menace of buildings, construction, demolitions, maintenance, and bribery surrounding these aspects, the best solution is to digitise the building registry, where a central database with age, structure type, blueprints, and modification history. Other than that, mandatory structural audits can also help in keeping a track of older structures and the quality of these buildings, a law requiring every building to undergo safety checks every 10 years, especially the ones that are over 25 years old.

On the government level, penalties and criminal procedures should be imposed for illegal construction, be it citizens or the builder mafia. Strict jail terms and fines should be imposed for illegal builders, SBCA staff enabling corruption, and contractors using substandard materials. After incidents like recent building collapses, where dozens lost their lives, and the help arrives late due to narrow streets and construction of floors more than allowed, public service campaigns must be organised so that citizens also understand the consequences of building extra floors. Campaigns can also include examples from global cities that are building state-of-the-art constructions, keeping in view their circumstances. Tokyo, for instance, mandates retrofitting of earthquake-prone buildings, Istanbul launched a government-led safety audit and rehabilitation programme, and Singapore enforces strict inspections with legal consequences for non-compliance.

The collapse of buildings in Karachi is a sign of systemic failure rather than an isolated tragedy. Institutional silence, mafias, and corrupt approvals have made homes into death traps. The next collapse is not if, but when, unless authorities do anything about it, not merely send out news releases and notices.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/dangerous-buildings-11752361644-0/dangerous-buildings-11752361644-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Court orders compensation for victims of 2020 Karachi building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2501239/court-orders-compensation-for-victims-of-2020-karachi-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2501239/court-orders-compensation-for-victims-of-2020-karachi-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 24 08:58:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Karachi]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2501239</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Owners of building that collapsed in Rizvia society to pay diyat of Rs81,3595 to each victims' families]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A Karachi court has ordered the payment of compensation to the families of 27 individuals who lost their lives in a building collapse in 2020.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge of Central Karachi presided over the case involving the collapse that occurred in Rizvia Society. The court directed the building owners to pay diyat to the affected families.

Each victim&#39;s family is to receive Rs81,3595 as compensation. The court also stated that failure to pay the compensation would result in imprisonment for the defendants.

In March 2020, the Dr Jamal Fatima residential building collapsed in Gulbahar no 2, Rizvia Society. Around 27 people lost their lives, including eight women and three innocent children, while dozens were injured. The incident also affected surrounding buildings. The five-storey building was built illegally, claimed the authorities at the time.

Earlier the same year, the city administration directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to vacate the 382 residential buildings declared &lsquo;dangerous&rsquo;.

The majority of the earmarked buildings are located in Saddar, where 295 residential buildings had been declared dangerous. Meanwhile, 44 buildings are in Lyari. Out of the 382 dangerous buildings, 339 were located in South district, 14 in East district and 10 in Central district.

SBCA official Askhar Dawar lamented that evacuation notices had been served to the buildings&rsquo; owners but they were not implementing the orders of the building control authority.

In response to the incident, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director General Nasim-ul-Ghani Sahito had formed a three-member committee to investigate the cause of the building&#39;s collapse.

The committee, led by SBCA structure director Benish Shabbir, included SCBA (Baldia Town) Director Nadeem Ahmed and NED University Architecture and Planning Department head Noman Ahmed.

They were tasked with submitting a report, focusing on factors such as soil tests and the concrete&#39;s strength.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the builder, Mohammed Javed Khan, may have conducted major excavation work at the foundation and attempted to add additional pillars to support the structure, which allegedly led to the collapse.

Eyewitnesses reported that construction work on a fifth floor had commenced when the building began to crack.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Copy-of-Untitled---2024-10-07T140350-1721728292116-0/Copy-of-Untitled---2024-10-07T140350-1721728292116-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Mumbai building collapse kills woman, traps several</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2481449/mumbai-building-collapse-kills-woman-traps-several</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2481449/mumbai-building-collapse-kills-woman-traps-several#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jul 24 01:27:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Xinhua/News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2481449</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Heavy rains and poor infrastructure blamed for tragedy]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman lost her life, and three others sustained injuries on Saturday when a portion of a building collapsed in Mumbai, India. Officials report that several people are feared to be trapped under the debris.

The collapse occurred near the Grant Road railway station, affecting the front portion of a four-story building. Emergency responders, including police, fire brigade teams, civic body officials, and ambulances, quickly arrived on the scene to carry out rescue operations. Some parts of the building remain precariously hanging.

Television news channels broadcast video footage showing locals lifting concrete slabs to rescue a man whose leg was trapped in the rubble.

Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall on Friday, causing waterlogging on some roads and railway tracks. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials, the building had been declared dangerous, and residents were issued a notice to evacuate.

Accidents resulting from failing infrastructure, both new and old, are common in India. Construction experts attribute these incidents to lax administration and corruption, which lead to the use of poor-quality materials, inadequate supervision, and poor safety standards for workers.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Indian-station1721525398-0/Indian-station1721525398-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>9 killed in Multan as building collapses after cylinder explosion</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459135/9-killed-in-multan-as-building-collapses-after-cylinder-explosion</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459135/9-killed-in-multan-as-building-collapses-after-cylinder-explosion#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 24 10:31:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2459135</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[In Rawalpindi, two children die in blast caused by gas leakage]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

At least 11 people were killed and many others injured on Tuesday in gas cylinder explosion-related incidents in Multan and Rawalpindi.

In Multan, around nine people died and two were critically injured when a residential building collapsed on an adjacent structure in Mohalla Jawadian area near Haram Gate following a gas cylinder explosion.

Rescue officials said the three-storied building collapsed after a cylinder exploded, with its debris falling on an adjacent house and burying the residents under the rubble. The father and son residing in the building where the cylinder exploded passed away. The victims who died in the mishap were identified as 50-year-old Umar, 21-year-old Waqar, 15-year-old Danish, 40-year-old Faheem, 12-year-old Ameer Ali, 14-year-old Waseem, 40-year-old Sanobar, 12-year-old Ibad, and 13-year-old Komal. Seven individuals belonging to the same family lost their lives when the debris fell on their house.

Rescue services shifted the critically injured to Multan&#39;s Nishtar Hospital. Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the tragedy.

In a post on social media platform X, Maryam extended her heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and urged immediate action from the Multan commissioner for a thorough report.

In Rawalpindi, two minor siblings &ndash; a brother and sister &ndash; were killed and seven others suffered burn wounds in a four separate explosion caused by gas leakages in the garrison city.

One of the gas leakage explosions took place in a house in Bhabra Bazar in which two young siblings, three-year-old Ayat Fatima and six-month-old Arham, lost their lives.&nbsp; In the explosion, 28-year-old Reema, the mother of the children, suffered 50% burns.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, there was a gas leak in one of the rooms of the house and the explosion occurred when the light was switched on.

The second gas leakage explosion took place at a house in Rawalpindi&rsquo;s Tench Bhatta Abadi No 2 in which Abdullah and Ahsan were injured.

The third explosion caused by a gas leakage took place at a house in Arya Mohalla in which five people sustained burn injuries.

The injured included Intizar, Riaz Ahmed, Parveen, 26-year-old Ambreen and 15-year-old Amber. They were transferred to Benazir Hospital.

The fourth explosion occurred because of gas leakage at house on Rawalpindi&rsquo;s Girja Road. Three people were injured in the explosion including two minor siblings -- 1.5-year-old old Shahzeb and three-year-old Noor Waqar -- as well as their mother Sobia.

The Rescue 1122 spokesperson said gas load shedding in different areas and minor negligence of the citizens were causing such accidents, particularly during the Sehri (wee hours of the day) time.

The spokesperson advised the citizens of Rawalpindi to be extremely careful while using Sui gas. He added that if a gas leakage was felt anywhere, the citizens should avoid pressing the fire and power buttons.

The spokesperson warned that in case of a gas leakage, turning on or off the power button and lighting the fire could cause an explosion.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2616643-bodies-1710217702-781-640x4801710240072-0/2616643-bodies-1710217702-781-640x4801710240072-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>More than 30 killed in heavy rain</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458250/more-than-30-killed-in-heavy-rain</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458250/more-than-30-killed-in-heavy-rain#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 03 Mar 24 13:05:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2458250</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Widespread heavy rain since Thursday has caused severe disruption in some areas of the country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[More than 30 people have died in rain-related incidents during days of heavy downpours, with thousands of schools closed, officials said Sunday.

Widespread heavy rain since Thursday has caused severe disruption in some areas of the country, including the closure of all schools in Balochistan until Thursday.

Eighteen children were among 26 killed in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as a result of collapsed buildings.

&quot;As a result of continuous rainfall over the past four days in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a total of 27 individuals have lost their lives,&quot; said Taimur Ali Khan, the spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in K-P.

Read also: 16 children among 29 killed in rain, snowfall spell

Another person was killed in a landslide and more than 150 houses were also damaged.

In Balochistan, five people were killed when buildings collapsed on Thursday and Friday, said Jahanzain Khan, head of the disaster management agency.

Damaged roads, floods and landslides have cut villages off from main towns in Balochistan, while major roads were blocked in Gilgit-Baltistan, local media reported.

The Meteorological Department anticipates further rainfall and snowfall across the region on Sunday.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Karachi-rain1706983927-0/Karachi-rain1706983927-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least three people killed in Karachi Machhar Colony building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450405/at-least-three-people-killed-in-karachi-machhar-colony-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450405/at-least-three-people-killed-in-karachi-machhar-colony-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 23 11:31:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sajid Rauf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Karachi]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2450405</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Around 17 people said to be injured after gas cylinders explode in shop on ground floor]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least three people including a minor girl died and 17 others were injured on Monday after a residential building in Karachi&rsquo;s Machhar Colony collapsed following a gas cylinder explosion in a shop on the ground floor.

The deceased were identified as 45-year-old Ameen and Ulfat, whereas the identity of the third person was still unknown.

The injured were identified as Syed Noor, Alam, Hameed, Noor Hussain, Farooq Fazal Haq, Abdul Ameen and three-year-old Shahzadi. Names of three injured children and a man were not yet known.

According to the police, the explosion occurred near Bait Ul Mukarram Masjid, Jaafar Chowk, in Machhar Colony. The blast occurred when the cylinders were being shifted from a pick-up van into the shop.








SSP Arif Aslam Rao informed the media that an initial explosion in a gas cylinder led to a chain reaction, and others stored in the shop also exploded.

He added that around seven to eight people got injured after being hit by debris, whereas the rest got injured by the explosion.

The police official stated that a rescue operation was still ongoing, and it was unclear how many people were still under the rubble.

SSP Rao requested the residents around the building to stay clear of the site of the explosion, and not hinder rescue efforts.

Area residents informed the media that the owner of the building was a former councillor named Noor-ul-Islam Haqqani. Two of his daughters also lived in the building with their respective families, whereas two more families also resided there.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Building-collapse1702897151-0/Building-collapse1702897151-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2441346/building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2441346/building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 23 07:28:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2441346</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Loss of five lives marks a profound human tragedy, highlights the urgent need to enact comprehensive safety measures]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The recent tragic building collapse in Karachi&rsquo;s Shah Faisal Colony has thrust the need for robust safety regulations onto regulatory authorities in Sindh.

The loss of five lives marks a profound human tragedy and highlights the urgent need to enact comprehensive safety measures.

Interim Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar&rsquo;s decisive action in suspending key officers from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is a commendable first step. However, it raises broader questions about the effectiveness of our current regulatory framework and emphasises the need for a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to building safety.

This incident exposes the inadequacies in enforcing existing regulations, necessitating a reevaluation of penalties for those who disregard building codes.

Stricter enforcement is crucial in preventing the compromise of structural integrity and, more importantly, safeguarding lives.

The establishment of an inquiry committee by the SBCA is a positive development, but its success hinges on tangible outcomes. The investigation must transcend immediate causes and delve into systemic issues within the regulatory framework.

Scrutinising the approval process for building plans, monitoring construction timelines and evaluating the role of officers in ensuring compliance are pivotal aspects of this.

Public awareness is another crucial facet of building safety. Local residents need to be informed about the risks associated with illegal constructions and empowered to report potential hazards.

Public participation, combined with stringent regulations, creates a resilient system where safety is prioritised above all else.

A safer future relies on collective commitment to building a regulatory framework that prioritises the sanctity of human life.

In this endeavour, every stakeholder plays a crucial role, and only through shared responsibility can we construct cities where such tragedies are avoided.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-Opinion-copy1/Editorial-Opinion-copy1.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Five dead in building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440580/five-dead-in-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440580/five-dead-in-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Oct 23 19:28:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2440580</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Under-construction double-storey 80 sq yds house on 80sq-yds had no pillars]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Five people were killed and multiple others injured when a double storey under-construction house collapsed in Shah Faisal Colony on Wednesday. The house, owned by Wazir, a resident of Orangi Town, came crashing down in morning hours while labourers were working there. 

The local community immediately started removing the rubble to pull out the people trapped underneath. However, the heavy machinery required for the rescue operation arrived at the site one and a half hours after the tragedy. 

Mohammad Saqib, SHO Shah Faisal Colony police station, identified those buried alive under the debris as 70-year-old Abdul Ghaffar, son of Ali Hassan, 30-year-old Naseer Ahmad, son of Mohammad Anwar, and 37-year-old Mohammad Kashif, son of Mehmoob Ali Shah, 26-year-old Asfar, and Sikandar, son of Bachaoo. 

Two workers miraculously survived the incident. The bodies were shifted to the JPMC, while search for more survivors and bodies is ongoing.

Abdul Ghaffar was a resident of Shah Faisal Colony, and earned his living by vending food and drinks. The other two victims, Naseer and Kashif, were labourers. 

Local residents have pointed out that the under-construction house had shown signs of structural instability for some time as water stagnated in its foundations. They also noted that the roof was made of tile and beams, with no supporting pillars, which led to its sudden collapse.

The residents reported that the owner had purchased it as an 80-yard under-construction property for Rs7 million before selling half of the portion for Rs3 million. Additional construction work was being carried out on the remaining 40 yards, with the intention of renting it out. The owner, Wazir, was present at the site before the collapse but had left shortly before the incident occurred.

Dr Abid, Director of Operations for Rescue 1122, stated that they mobilised all available machinery and personnel to rescue those buried under the debris. &quot;Oxygen cylinders are being used to aid in saving anyone trapped,&quot; he added.

Korangi&#39;s Deputy Commissioner Syed Jawad Muzaffar said that the incident was reported at 10:30 in the morning. Immediate action was taken, with the assistant commissioner, police, and other officials calling in Rescue 1122, the Fire Brigade, and ambulances to retrieve the trapped people. &quot;Despite the challenges posed by a large crowd of onlookers, rescue operations will continue until all individuals are safely removed from the rubble,&quot; he added.

Muzaffar expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered various departments, including the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), to conduct a comprehensive district-wide survey of such constructions, promising legal action against any non-compliant structures. He said that the owner and contractor of the collapsed house would also be arrested for legal action.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2023.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/21697055056-0/21697055056-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Two killed as hotel building collapses</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2367784/two-killed-as-hotel-building-collapses</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2367784/two-killed-as-hotel-building-collapses#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 22 20:10:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2367784</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Over a dozen people sustain injuries]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A two-storey hotel building at Lari Adda on Sargodha Road collapsed due to heavy rain, killing two people on the spot and injuring over a dozen others.

The deceased were identified as Ashfaq Ahmed, 42, and Imran.

Besides the deceased, over a dozen people remained buried under the debris of the building until help arrived.

The district emergency officer of Rescue 1122 supervised the rescue operation. 

As soon as it was reported to the police about the collapse of the hotel building, Lyallpur Town SP, Civil Line and Kotwali DSPs besides the District Emergency Officer, Ehtsham Wahla, Emergency Officer Ghulam Shabbir and Rescue Safety Officer Muhammad Shahid arrived on the spot and helped the trapped people to safety.

However, two of them had already died before the help arrived. 

In other incidents, 50-year-old Rani Bibi and her 25-year-old daughter Safina Abdul Aziz were injured when the dilapidated roof of their house collapsed due to rain in Chack No. 189 RB. 

Several other people were injured in similar incidents across the district.

On Thursday, at least six people died and eight others were injured in two incidents of roof collapse and two road traffic crashes amid heavy rain that lashed the provincial capital for over seven hours.

According to officials, two men sitting on a charpoy at a rickshaw workshop at Daroghawala Chowk to shelter themselves from rain died and two others were injured when the mud roof collapsed.

One of the victims had stopped at the place minutes before the incident. People present nearby rushed to help them and called rescue teams. They removed the debris and evacuated the victims.

One of the men had died on the spot, while another was shifted to hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The deceased were identified as Azeem Hafeez, 44, from Mughalpura, and Fiaz Sattar, 45, from Fategarh.

Police handed over the bodies to the families after completing legal formalities. In the other incident, the roof of a house in a dilapidated condition collapsed in Salamatpura, leaving one person dead and another injured.

Rescue 1122 received a call at its control room about the roof collapse in Mohallah Eid Gah.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2022.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1071715-rubble-1458809271/1071715-rubble-1458809271.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Three-storey building collapses</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2363841/three-storey-building-collapses</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2363841/three-storey-building-collapses#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 22 05:44:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2363841</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Owner claims excavation on adjacent plot caused the incident]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A three-storey building in Bizerta Lines collapsed causing damages to the adjoining building, part of which also collapsed.

A woman suffered minor injuries in the incident while a minivan parked near the building was also destroyed.

The building collapsed near the Military Cemetery, Chandni Chowk, Bizerta Line behind the Gora Qabrastan in Saddar area.

Police, Rangers and Edhi&#39;s volunteers rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operation.

The injured woman was shifted to Jinnah Hospital.

Akhtar, the owner of the affected building, said adjacent to his building, a several feet deep water storage tank was being built near the military cemetery under the supervision of a cantonment board engineers.

He said, when excavation work for the water tank was started, he warned the workers and officials at the site that his building might collapse if they dig deep.

However, these workers told Akhtar that the engineer was getting the digging done under his own supervision.

He said that two days ago, when a deep ditch was dug, he felt the ground of his house shaking.

That day, part of the cemetery wall also collapsed. However, the workers did not stop digging and on the night between Monday and Tuesday, his building collapsed with an explosion.

Meanwhile, a wall of the third floor of a three-storey building belonging to a man named Yaseen also collapsed due to the collapse of Akhtar&#39;s building and cracks also appeared in his building.

Akhtar&#39;s daughter-in-law Parveen, who was injured, is said to be out of danger.

Akhtar, fearing damage or collapse to his building, had shifted to another building nearby.

At the time of the incident, his son and daughter-in-law had come to collect some goods from the affected building when the building collapsed. Fortunately, his son, other family members and the area people remained safe, he said.

Residents of the area have demanded of the Sindh government and the cantonment board officials to provide financial compensation to those whose houses have been damaged. The injured woman should also be compensated for her treatment and investigations should be carried out against the engineers whose negligence has caused the collapse]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1058112-ambulancexx-1456956651/1058112-ambulancexx-1456956651.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Yet another building caves in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264971/yet-another-building-caves-in-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264971/yet-another-building-caves-in-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 20 10:10:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264971</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Casualties avoided as most most factory workers had stepped out for lunch break]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A labourer was injured on Monday when in the third incident of building collapse in the city, a double-storey factory in SITE Industrial Area caved in. No other casualties were reported.

Most of the workers had stepped out for their lunch break when the factory, located near Siemens Chowrangi, partially collapsed. Rescue teams arrived as area locals began ad hoc efforts amid fears of labourers trapped under the rubble.




A portion of a factory in Karachi&rsquo;s SITE industrial area has collapsed. Factory workers are feared to have stuck under the debris of fallen building
pic.twitter.com/Wq0Xq4sDBG
&mdash; Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) September 21, 2020




The injured, identified as Mustaqeem, was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable.

&#39;Crumbling structure&#39;

Speaking to The Express Tribune, one of the workers at the factory said that the building was deteriorating and the labourers had complained to the building owner, Amin, but had received no response.

According to the worker, Amin rented out the factory for manufacturing purposes. Different departments worked on different products and materials, such as threads, polythene bags, water coolers, garment and stitching and so on, at the factory. He confirmed that most of the workers were out when the factory caved in as it was lunch break at the time.

At risk

Later, Karachi Administrator Iftikhar Shalwani visited the site and oversaw the rescue operation. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation&#39;s (KMC) urban search and rescue teams and the fire department were directed to assist the Sindh Police and Rangers in rescue efforts.

Speaking to the media, Shallwani said that the injured labourer is under treatment and in stable condition.

Weak and dilapidated buildings in Karachi have become a hazard for citizens, said Shallwani, adding that committees have been set up, under deputy commissioners, and are surveying all residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

The newly-appointed city administrator further added that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant authorities are at the site. SBCA teams will carry out surveys of buildings in the SITE Area and if any building is found to be weak or at risk, it will be vacated and razed down, said Shallwani.

He appealed to citizens to vacate deteriorating buildings and maintained that the owner of the caved in factory building will charged.

Third in a month

Earlier this month, at least six people were killed and several others injured when part of a building in Lyari&#39;s Bihar Colony and another building in Korangi collapsed within the same week.

During the rescue operation, recently-appointed Karachi Commissioner Sohail Rajput had said that all structures weakened in the aftermath of recent monsoon rains would be vacated after a survey, while all illegal construction would be halted and legal action taken against those involved. All weakened structures would be identified in a list that shall be advertised once prepared, the commissioner had assured. SBCA teams had also inspected the sites.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Factory-collapse-KHI1600712433-0/Factory-collapse-KHI1600712433-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Building collapses in Korangi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2263474/building-collapses-in-korangi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2263474/building-collapses-in-korangi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 20 20:27:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[munawar.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2263474</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least one child killed, half a dozen people injured; rescue efforts underway]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A four-storey residential building collapsed in Korangi&#39;s Allahwala Town on Thursday, killing at least one person and leaving several others wounded. More people are feared to be trapped in the rubble, with rescue efforts continuing late into the night.

As dust billowed in the air after the structure caved in, police, Rangers, local administration officials and rescue volunteers rushed to the spot. Personnel from the Pakistan Army also took part in the operation to find those buried in the debris.

Army personnel used thermal sensors and motion sensors to try to locate those buried in the rubble based on the direction from which their voices were coming, while rescuers carefully removed debris so as to avoid further injury to those trapped underneath.

The body of a child was retrieved from the rubble and shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, along with at least six injured residents. The deceased was identified as 15-year-old Waqas, while the injured included Ayub, his two teenaged daughters Nazish and Kiran, Rani Iqbal, her 14-year-old daughter Reema, and Nisha. Another injured teenager, Mehek, was also rushed to the Indus Hospital.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Waqas&#39; father Muhammad Hanif said he had rented a shop on the building&#39;s ground floor, adding that the builder, Muhammad Ayub, also lived in a portion on the ground floor. &quot;When it appeared the building was unstable after the rain, we wanted to leave, but the builder guaranteed it would not collapse,&quot; he lamented, adding that Ayub was constructing pillars in the structure.

Karachi Commissioner Sohail Rajput, who was present at the site, told The Express Tribune that army engineers were engaged in the efforts, while more rescue teams were also arriving. He stated that it was difficult to accurately estimate how many people were in the building at the time, but added that the local administration was trying to save as many lives as possible.

Meanwhile, a traffic police official told The Express Tribune that his wife and two children were trapped under the rubble. According to head constable Muhammad Zulfiqar, he was on duty at the time the building fell, but his wife Ayesha, 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son were at home.

He added that Ayub&#39;s wife and two daughters were stuck in the debris as well.

Rain damage

According to area residents, recent monsoon rains had led to the accumulation of rainwater in the area, standing stagnant for several days. This reportedly weakened the building&#39;s foundations and led to its tilting forward - and, ultimately, to its collapse.

Residents had filed complaints about the weakened structure with the Korangi district municipal corporation as well as the Korangi deputy comissioner&#39;s (DC) office.

Prior to the incident, the DC, Sheheryar Memon, had visited the site and declared the building unfit. He ordered its evacuation and while some families had moved out of their apartments, a number of residents were still in the building when it collapsed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Memon said he had given directives for the building to be evacuated two days prior to its caving in. &quot;The building was weakened due to the recent rainfall,&quot; he said. &quot;While most of its occupants had [temporarily] relocated after a contractor assured them it would be repaired, two families were still living there.&quot;

He went on to say that one of the neighbouring buildings was seriously damaged, with its foundations weakened due to the collapse, and had also been vacated, while another was partially damaged.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has also declared the structure as an illegal construction, with SBCA director-general Ashkar Dawar claiming it was built on a china cutting plot, without any building plans being approved by the relevant authorities.

Located near Rashidia Mosque, the building in question was built on an 80-yard plot, with two apartments on each of its four floors, while the ground floor had two shops and an apartment as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/51599769641-1/51599769641-1.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least four killed as residential building collapses in Karachi's Korangi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2263407/at-least-four-killed-as-residential-building-collapses-in-karachis-korangi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2263407/at-least-four-killed-as-residential-building-collapses-in-karachis-korangi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 20 11:58:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[munawar.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2263407</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue operations underway to take residents out from the debris]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A four-storey residential building collapsed in Korangi&rsquo;s Allahwala Town on Thursday, killing at least four persons and leaving several others wounded. More people are feared to be trapped in the rubble, with rescue efforts continuing late into the night.

As dust billowed in the air after the structure caved in, police, Rangers, local administration officials and rescue volunteers rushed to the spot. Personnel from the Pakistan Army also took part in the operation to find those buried in the debris.

Army personnel used thermal sensors and motion sensors to try to locate those buried in the rubble based on the direction from which their voices were coming, while rescuers carefully removed debris so as to avoid further injury to those trapped underneath.

The body of a child was retrieved from the rubble and shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, along with at least six injured residents. The deceased was identified as 15-year-old Waqas, while the injured included Ayub, his two teenaged daughters Nazish and Kiran, Rani Iqbal, her 14-year-old daughter Reema, and Nisha. Another injured teenager, Mehek, was also rushed to the Indus Hospital.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Waqas&rsquo; father Muhammad Hanif said he had rented a shop on the building&rsquo;s ground floor, adding that the builder, Muhammad Ayub, also lived in a portion on the ground floor. &ldquo;When it appeared the building was unstable after the rain, we wanted to leave, but the builder guaranteed it would not collapse,&rdquo; he lamented, adding that Ayub was constructing pillars in the structure.

He added that Ayub&rsquo;s wife and two daughters were stuck in the debris as well.

arachi Commissioner Sohail Rajput, who was present at the site, told The Express Tribune that army engineers were engaged in the efforts, while more rescue teams were also arriving. He stated that it was difficult to accurately estimate how many people were in the building at the time, but added that the local administration was trying to save as many lives as possible.

Rain damage

According to area residents, recent monsoon rains had led to the accumulation of rainwater in the area, standing stagnant for several days. This reportedly weakened the building&rsquo;s foundations and led to its tilting forward &ndash; and, ultimately, to its collapse.

Residents had filed complaints about the weakened structure with the Korangi district municipal corporation as well as the Korangi deputy comissioner&rsquo;s (DC) office.

Prior to the incident, the DC, Sheheryar Memon, had visited the site and declared the building unfit. He ordered its evacuation and while some families had moved out of their apartments, a number of residents were still in the building when it collapsed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Memon said he had given directives for the building to be evacuated two days prior to its caving in. &ldquo;The building was weakened due to the recent rainfall,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;While most of its occupants had [temporarily] relocated after a contractor assured them it would be repaired, two families were still living there.&rdquo;

He went on to say that one of the neighbouring buildings was seriously damaged, with its foundations weakened due to the collapse, and had also been vacated, while another was partially damaged.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has also declared the structure as an illegal construction, with SBCA director-general Ashkar Dawar claiming it was built on a china cutting plot, without any building plans being approved by the relevant authorities.

Located near Rashidia Mosque, the building in question was built on an 80-yard plot, with two apartments on each of its four floors, while the ground floor had two shops and an apartment as well.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Korangi-Building-Collapse-10-SEp-(3)1599739632-2/Korangi-Building-Collapse-10-SEp-(3)1599739632-2.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Residential building collapses</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2261950/residential-building-collapses</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2261950/residential-building-collapses#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 20 19:22:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2261950</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The owner claimed the structure was weakened because of the five feet of rainwater accumulated in the street]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A four-storey residential building collapsed in Nishtar Basti in the wee hours of Sunday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. According to PIB Colony SHO Shakir Hussain, the structure was several years old and it belonged to a widow, Qamar Bibi, who resided in the building along with her daughter&rsquo;s family and tenants. Upon complaints of the building having tilted, the police called a Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) team, which inspected the structure and ordered its evacuation and suspension of utilities. Buildings in the surroundings of the weakened structure were also vacated. The building later collapsed and damaged another house. The damaged house&rsquo;s owner claimed the structure was weakened because of the five feet of rainwater accumulated in the street. He appealed to the Sindh government to compensate them for their losses. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1112085-vavwwx-1464473891/1112085-vavwwx-1464473891.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least 100 feared trapped in building collapse south of Mumbai</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2261083/at-least-100-feared-trapped-in-building-collapse-south-of-mumbai</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2261083/at-least-100-feared-trapped-in-building-collapse-south-of-mumbai#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 20 19:02:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2261083</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A local lawmaker says about 100 to 125 people must have been inside at the time of its collapse]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 100 people are feared trapped in the debris of a five-storey building that collapsed on Monday in an industrial town in western India, a lawmaker said.

Not all the roughly 200 residents of the building in Mahad, about 165 km (100 miles) south of India&rsquo;s financial capital Mumbai, were at home when it crumbled in the evening, Bharatshet Maruti Gogawale, the local lawmaker, told Reuters.

&ldquo;I believe about 100 to 125 people must have been inside at the time of its collapse,&rdquo; Gogawale, who was present at the site, told Reuters.

The building comprised around 47 flats, according to the police department of western Maharashtra state.

Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the collapse and the number of casualties, but about 30 people were pulled out by rescue teams and local residents.

TV channels showed footage of the debris with locals and police trying to reach the trapped people. The TV footage also showed at least one ambulance leaving the area as people surrounding it made frantic phone calls.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has assured the local administration of all possible support for speedy rescue and relief work, his office said on Twitter.

Three teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been moved to the site, the NDRF said in a statement.

Old creaky structures and illegal constructions in India often lead to collapses, typically during torrential rain.

More than 1,200 people were killed in 1,161 building collapses across India in 2017, according to latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Reuters-Mumbai-building-collapse1598295628-0/Reuters-Mumbai-building-collapse1598295628-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Army team rescues 17 people trapped under AJK wedding hall debris</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255378/army-team-rescues-17-people-trapped-under-ajk-wedding-hall-debris</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255378/army-team-rescues-17-people-trapped-under-ajk-wedding-hall-debris#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 20 20:02:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[NEWS DESK.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2255378</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least nine people sustained critical injuries after multi-storey marriage hall caves-in in Mirpur district]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Army Urban and Research team evacuated at least 17 stranded people from debris of a five-storey building that caved-in in Chakswari town of Mirpur district in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday.

The army rescue teams were dispatched from Rawalpindi to aid the civil administration in carrying out relief work, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Realtions (ISPR) said.

The relief operation was ongoing till filing of the story.



At least nine people out of 30 present in the multi-storeyed marriage hall sustained critical injuries after the building collapsed during renovation work, officials said.

Rescue teams belonging to the Pakistan Army &ndash; headed by Brigadier Saeed and Brigadier Irfan &ndash; teams of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Rescue 1122, civil defence, local volunteers and police immediately rushed the site to join the relief works to rescue the victims.



The injured were shifted to the local as well as Mirpur Divisional Headquarter hospital.

The owner of the ill-fated building, identified as Chaudhry Nadeem Roopayal is also among the injured.

(With additional input from APP).]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/AJK-building-collapse1595015874-2/AJK-building-collapse1595015874-2.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Lyari building owner charged with negligence</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2241428/lyari-building-owner-charged-negligence</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2241428/lyari-building-owner-charged-negligence#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 20 17:56:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2241428</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Case filed over apartment collapse tragedy also includes charges of endangering human lives]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The owner of a building that collapsed in Lyari recently has been charged along with others in a case registered on behalf of the government on Friday. The case includes sections pertaining to negligence, endangering human lives and others.

As many as 22 people were killed when the five-storey apartment building in Lyari's Khadda Market caved in on Sunday evening, while at least six others were injured.

The rescue operation, which went on for three days, was wrapped up on Wednesday night after the debris was cleared from the site.

According to the FIR, the Shireen Bai Apartments, with 45 flats, had been declared dangerous by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), but the building owner, namely Munir, and other individuals ignored the warning and displayed negligence in vacating the structure.

Death toll reaches 22 in Lyari building collapse

The FIR claims that the accused put numerous lives at risk through their behaviour, leading to several casualties and the loss of property.

The building had reportedly been declared dangerous by the SBCA's technical team after an inspection survey on March 16. The SBCA had also issued a notice to the residents on March 18, directing them to vacate the building within 15 days.

According to sources, the SBCA had also issued letters to the relevant agencies to cut off the utility connections when it wasn't vacated, but in vain.

According to the Sindh Rangers, the rubble had been removed from the location, while all items found in the wreckage were handed to the civil administration on the spot. The items recovered from the site included cash, mobile phones, electronics, gold and other valuables, stated a Rangers spokesperson on Friday, adding that this included over Rs1.6 million in cash as well as valuables worth over Rs0.2 million.

Cracking down

On Thursday, Sindh Information and Housing and Town Planning Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah had stated that the provincial government would intensify its demolition operations against illegal structures on encroached lands.

Saying that the government would not let anyone change the map of Karachi, he added that the SBCA had been directed to take strict action against illegal constructions.

"Incidents of buildings collapsing in the city have become more frequent, which cannot be tolerated," he insisted. "There are some buildings which were constructed even before Partition and they are in dilapidated condition."

He claimed that the SBCA had issued evacuation notices to the occupants of these weakened structures, but they were not willing to leave their houses.

The establishment of separate courts for the SBCA would help eliminate the illegal constructions, he suggested, adding that the Sindh government was also taking action against the officers involved in facilitating the construction of such buildings.

Grieving the loss of lives, Shah said that the Sindh government was striving to prevent any such incidents in the future. However, he asked people to cooperate and vacate the buildings when the authorities declared them unfit for habitation.

Demolition continues

Meanwhile, the SBCA's demolition squad continued to take action against illegal structures, razing and sealing several buildings in the city on Friday.

The demolished and sealed structures include additional floors of multi-storey buildings, columns and beams, partition walls, extended fronts and quarters in Firdous Colony, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Paposh Nagar, North Karachi, New Karachi Town and Gulberg Town.

The operations were carried out under the supervision of the relevant deputy commissioners, SBCA assistant directors and demolition officers, while the SBCA police force was present to avoid any untoward incidents.

The occupants of many buildings declared dangerous by the SBCA were also warned to vacate their residences in order to avoid loss of life and property.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2241428-lyaribuilding-1591984478/2241428-lyaribuilding-1591984478.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Death toll of Lyari building tragedy rises to six</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238607/death-toll-lyari-building-tragedy-rises-six</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238607/death-toll-lyari-building-tragedy-rises-six#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 20 19:42:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2238607</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue operations continue, UC official claims 54 people missing]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The death toll from the apartment building collapse in Lyari rose to six on Monday after the bodies of five more residents, including two women, were retrieved from the rubble. Rescue operations continued, with fears that several more people were trapped in the debris.

The five-storey building, reportedly comprising 40 apartments, had collapsed in Lyari's densely populated Khadda Market area on Sunday night. While many residents vacated the building after the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) issued a notice deeming the structure 'unsafe' and after a crack appeared in the building earlier in the day, several remained inside at the time of the incident.

According to Lyari SP Altaf Hussain, six bodies had been retrieved by rescue personnel by Monday night, while their bodies were shifted to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

Edhi Foundation officials stated that five of the deceased had been identified as Salma, 52, Jameela, 40, Sheeraz, 24, Noor Muhammad alias Babu, 50, and Faheem, 35. The body of another woman could not immediately be identified.

Union Council-4 vice chairperson Mehmood Hashim claimed that according to information collected from relatives of building residents, around 194 individuals resided at the building, of whom 54 were said to be missing. He added that the rescue operations were proceeding cautiously because they were trying to pull out those trapped under the rubble alive, without harming them further.

"There are many buildings in Lyari that are crumbling and warning letters have also been put up on them, telling the residents to empty them," he stated. "But the issue the SBCA faces in vacating the building is this: where would the residents be accommodated after that?"

Five-storey building collapses in Karachi

Rescue work continued all day on Monday and into the night, with the help of officials from Pakistan Army's engineering corps. Army officials also used sniffer dogs to try to locate those trapped under the debris, while the police and Rangers officials cordoned off the congested area.

Declared dangerous

The building had reportedly been declared dangerous by the SBCA's technical team after an inspection survey on March 16. The SBCA had also issued a notice to the residents on March 18, directing them to vacate the building within 15 days.

The authority has declared at least 250 structures in the city 'dangerous,' with most of them located in the South district.

According to sources, the SBCA had also issued letters to the relevant agencies to cut off the utility connections when it wasn't vacated, but in vain.

Meanwhile, Sindh Information, Housing and Town Planning Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that there were over 300 buildings in the city that were old and extremely dilapidated, but their occupants had refused to leave despite being given notices. However, he added, talks were underway with these residents.

Visiting Khadda Market, Shah told media personnel that legislation was also being enacted to assure the residents of such buildings that they would be provided alternative accommodation in such circumstances. "The only purpose of these notices is to protect lives," he pointed out.

Promising a thorough investigation into the tragedy, he further maintained that action would be taken if any negligence on the part of SBCA officials was behind it, adding that these officials had already been warned they would be held responsible for any illegal construction in their jurisdictions.

According to the minister, the Sindh government has already approved separate courts for the SBCA, while the Supreme Court had been approached to appoint personnel for these courts.

Separately, Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar stated that it was the Sindh government's responsibility to ensure the evacuation of precarious buildings in the city.

"The provincial government has a list of all such buildings in Karachi and it should take action and ensure they are vacated to save valuable lives," he said. "Until the relevant authorities take effective measures, such buildings will keep collapsing and people will keep dying."]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2238607-lyaribuilding-1591645290/2238607-lyaribuilding-1591645290.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Five-storey building collapses in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2237656/least-one-dead-several-injured-five-storey-residential-building-collapses-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2237656/least-one-dead-several-injured-five-storey-residential-building-collapses-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 20 17:12:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2237656</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least one dead and several others injured]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[[tvideo url="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/4WwTV61I-111BQthM.html"]

At least one person died and several others were injured as a five-storey building, comprising 40 apartments, collapsed in one of Lyari’s densely populated neighbourhoods on Sunday.

On being informed of the tragic incident, law enforcement personnel, fire fighters and rescue teams reached the spot and began relief operations. Area locals also reached the spot and participated in rescue work. However, Rangers and police later cordoned off the area and dispersed the crowd.



According to rescue workers, panic and chaos gripped the area after the building collapsed and they faced difficulty in carrying out relief work due to narrow and congested streets being crowded by people, as well as electricity suspension. They said that the machinery required to clear the debris, too, couldn’t easily be brought to the site of the incident due to the locality’s narrow streets. However, they some how managed to brought it to the site and began rescue work.

A woman’s body had been recovered from the rubble till the filing of this report. The body was shifted to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil hospital. Besides, four injured in the incident, identified as Shama, 40, Shahzad, 35, Shahbaz, 9, and Fayyaz, 30, who is a policeman, were shifted to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital.

[caption id="attachment_2237766" align="alignnone" width="640"] Rescue teams faced difficulties in relief operations due to narrow and congested streets. PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

Reliving the dreadful moment, area locals said that dust blanketed the area as soon as the building collapsed and cries of the victims resounded in the air.



[caption id="attachment_2237737" align="alignnone" width="625"] Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies carried out relief and rescue operations at the site of the incident. PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

According to SP Lyari Altaf Hussain, the building was vacated after the SBCA issued a notice regarding the structure being unsafe. “Moreover, a crack had appeared in the building, said to be around 35 to 40 years old, in the morning,” he said, talking to The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah issued directives for launching an investigation into the incident, instructing that all possible efforts should be made to rescue those stuck in the rubble. He also sought a report on the matter after the completion of rescue operation.

[caption id="attachment_2237781" align="alignnone" width="640"] Area locals say dust blanketed the area as soon as the building collapsed and cries of the victims resounded in the air. PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

Sindh governor Imran Ismail, taking notice of the incident, too, has sought a report of the incident from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and said that immediate measures were to be taken to rescue people stuck in the rubble.

“People are losing lives due to SBCA’s inefficiency,” he said, holding all SBCA officials responsible for the incident. Pointing out that it was SBCA’s responsibility to identify unsafe structure and get them vacated, the governor alleged SBCA officials of “allowing illegal construction in the city.”

[caption id="attachment_2237738" align="alignnone" width="625"] Several people are feared to be struck under the debris of the building. PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah called for the provision of assistance to rescue workers from district administration officials, as well as all medical facilities to the injured. He said that there was no electricity in the area, posing difficulties in rescue operations, however, search lights had been provided to rescue personnel for their aid.

[caption id="attachment_2237797" align="alignnone" width="640"] Machinery required to clear the debris, too, couldn’t easily be brought to the site of the incident due to the locality’s narrow streets. PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar, expressing concern over the unfortunate incident, said that rescue teams and fire department personnel should make all-out efforts to save as many lives as possible. He also called for making immediate arrangements to ensure proper lighting at the site of the incident, so as to help with the rescue operation.

He extended condolences to the bereaved family.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2237656-buildingbreakingnews-1591549420/2237656-buildingbreakingnews-1591549420.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rizvia building collapse: Court extends builder’s remand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2181268/rizvia-building-collapse-court-extends-builders-remand</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2181268/rizvia-building-collapse-court-extends-builders-remand#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 20 03:46:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2181268</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Next hearing on March 24]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A local court extended on Saturday the physical remand of the owner of the residential building that collapsed in Rizvia Society earlier this month. The court also granted bail to three officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), also accused in the case, against surety bonds worth Rs500,000 each.

During the hearing at Central Jail, Karachi, the investigation officer (IO) accused the building's owner, Muhammad Javed Khan, of "taking advantage of being blind," and informed the court that he had identified SBCA officials responsible for the collapse.

Khan's counsel, however, argued that his client was blind and hence, unable to identify any officials. Saying that there was no need to remand Khan, the counsel requested the court to send him back to jail.

Contesting this argument, the public prosecutor said that though Khan was blind, he could tell the authorities the names of officials responsible for the collapse, which left at least 27 people dead. He held Khan responsible for their deaths.

The court extended Khan's physical remand to March 23 and directed the relevant officials to appear before the court at the next hearing on March 24.

Moreover, it approved the bails of three SBCA officials accused in the case, namely SBCA deputy director Sarfaraz Jamali, assistant director Maqsood Qureshi and inspector Irfan, ordering each of them to submit a surety bond of Rs500,000 against the bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2181268-rizviasociety-1584848567/2181268-rizviasociety-1584848567.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Local court in Sindh extends Rizvia builder’s remand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2176378/local-court-sindh-extends-rizvia-builders-remand</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2176378/local-court-sindh-extends-rizvia-builders-remand#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 20 04:47:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2176378</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[SBCA, KE, KWSB officials to be investigated for building collapse]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A local court extended on Saturday the physical remand of the builder of the five-storey building that collapsed in Rizvia Society on March 5, as well as that of others accused in the case, until March 16.

The Investigation Officer (IO) informed the court that the builder, Javed Khan, had nominated several other officials responsible for the negligence. Moreover, a letter has been dispatched to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general to include these officials in the investigation.

Khan’s wife and sons have also been nominated in the case, while officials from SBCA, K-Electric and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board will be investigated as well.

The court granted the IO’s request to extend the physical remand of the accused.

At least 27 people were killed while several others were injured when the building collapsed.

Court grants Gabol bail

Separately, a local court approved the interim bail of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol, who was arrested for barging into Fishermen Cooperative Society chairperson Hafeez Abdul Bar’s house and assaulting his servants.

Gabol informed the court that he had reconciled with Bar. The court approved his interim bail plea.

The case against Gabol was registered at Defence police station on behalf of Ghulam Shabbir, who works as a security guard at Bar’s house.

According to police, Shabbir had said in his statement that he was on duty as per routine on the night of March 1 when he heard someone beat on the gate around 10:30pm. He claimed that when he opened the gate, Gabol barged in with some other men and asked about Bar, saying that they had come to kill him.

According to Shabbir, Gabol snatched his repeater gun and fired twice in the air, whereas one of his companions slapped him. They then entered the rooms, vandalised the house and left after returning the gun.

In his clarification earlier, Gabol had said that his car had accidentally rammed into the gate of Bar’s house. “I had tried to stop my car but the brakes did not work,” he said, adding that he then took hold of the sleeping security guard’s gun, fearing that he might wake up and open fire on him. “I was unloading the gun when I accidentally fired it,” he said. He stressed that the CCTV footage showed that he returned the gun and later came to know that the house was owned by Lateef Khosa.

Earlier, a session court had accepted Gabol and the co-accused’s bail against surety of Rs100,000 each till March 14.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2176378-rizviasociety-1584247509/2176378-rizviasociety-1584247509.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rizvia rescue operation concludes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172830/rizvia-rescue-operation-concludes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172830/rizvia-rescue-operation-concludes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 20 03:45:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2172830</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[‘Risky’ nearby building vacated, owner of fallen building still on the run]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The rescue operation following the collapse of a five-storey building in Rizvia Society was completed on Sunday night, while the building owner, Muhammad Javed Khan, has still not been arrested. As many as 27 bodies and several injured persons had been found during the four-day rescue operation.

The building had collapsed on Thursday, destroying two cars and leaving the adjoining building bent, leading to fears that it too may collapse. Several parts of a third building also collapsed, while a fourth building was declared 'dangerous' by the authorities. One of the buildings was vacated after officials declared that it was also at risk of caving in.

Rescue operations were carried out by the police, Rangers, army, fire department, Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA) and relief services, with the assistance of area residents.

After rescue teams cleared the area, those affected by the tragedy gathered at the site, surveying the rubble that once was their home.

Complaining that no government officials had come to their aid, they expressed worries about how they would set up their residences once again. "Who will compensate us for the loss of lives and valuables?" they asked.

One of them explained that they had come to try to search for important documents buried in the rubble; however, he said, the authorities were not permitting them to go near the building.

Residents accused Khan of constructing three additional rooms on the rooftop of the building, claiming that the extra burden on the building had led to the incident. They also demanded that the government to compensate for their loss so that they can build their houses again.

The police, meanwhile, claimed that efforts were being made to arrest Khan, adding that he would soon be apprehended.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2172830-rizvia-1583811727/2172830-rizvia-1583811727.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Seven more bodies retrieved from fallen building, death toll soars to 27</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172088/seven-bodies-retrieved-fallen-building-death-toll-soars-27</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172088/seven-bodies-retrieved-fallen-building-death-toll-soars-27#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 20 04:38:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2172088</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue operation was expected to be completed by midnight]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The death toll from the collapse of a residential building in Rizvia Society soared to 27 as rescue workers retrieved seven more bodies from the rubble on Sunday. Area residents believe that there are more people still buried in the wreckage, on the fourth day of rescue operations after the five-storey building caved in. However, rescue teams expected that their efforts would be completed by Sunday night, allowing them to declare the area clear.

The bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Officials stated that rescue operations by the police, Rangers, army, fire department, Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA) and relief services had been ongoing since the incident occurred on Thursday, with the assistance of area residents.

Narrow alleyways restricted the access of heavy machinery to the disaster site, which meant that much of the rubble was being cleared manually, slowing down rescue efforts.

The collapsed building also left the adjoining building bent, leading to fears that it too may collapse, while several parts of a third building have also collapsed. Additionally, a fourth building has been declared 'dangerous' by the authorities. As a result, residents had been evacuated from the area.

One of those found on Sunday, Sufyan, had been present on the third floor of the building when it fell. He was identified by his brother with the help of his mobile phone and wallet after the rescue workers retrieved his body from the rubble. Meanwhile, Dr Ghazala's body was recovered from the debris of her clinic, which was located on the ground floor of the collapsed building.

The deceased also included seven members of the family of retired police sub-inspector Muhammad Ali Veesar. While two of his sons, Zahid and Rashid, survived the incident, leaving home for work in the morning a few hours before the incident, Veesar, his wife Zubaida, three daughters - Kainat, 15, Iqra, 16, and Sumera, 25 - and two other sons, 25-year-old Tariq and 30-year-old Sohail, were in their apartment on the first floor of the building when it collapsed.

Their bodies were taken to their hometown, Shikarpur.

Ishrat Bibi, 40, who was found under the debris of the building on the street, had left her house to shop for groceries on Thursday and never returned, according to her husband. Unable to find her in the hospitals where the injured had been taken, he had feared that she was trapped in the rubble.

The wreckage of a car was also unearthed during rescue operations.

Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani along with other officials visited the site on Sunday to review the ongoing rescue operations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2020.

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2172088-rizvia-1583728607/2172088-rizvia-1583728607.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Death toll from Rizvia building collapse rises to 26</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171854/death-toll-rizvia-building-collapse-rises-26</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171854/death-toll-rizvia-building-collapse-rises-26#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 20 10:01:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2171854</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue operation expected to be completed by Sunday evening]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As rescue services retrieved several more bodies from the rubble of the residential building that collapsed in Karachi's Rizvia Society, the death toll from the tragedy rose to 26 on Sunday.

Many of the injured have been discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid.

The rescue officials said the building may have collapsed after a large water-tank on the top floor fell. They feared it has damaged adjacant buildings as well.

Narrow alleyways restricted the access of heavy machinery to the disaster site, which meant that much of the rubble was being cleared manually, slowing down rescue efforts. The rescue operation is expected to be completed by Sunday evening.

Case registered

An FIR citing negligence, damage to private and public property and deaths due to the incident, was registered against the building’s owner at the Rizvia police station on behalf of the government.

FIR said the owner, Javed Khan, committed criminal negligence in the construction of the building, due to which the structure had collapsed. It further states that the building was constructed in violation of regulations, for which various government officials are to blame.

Police sources told The Express Tribune that Khan was also injured in the incident, and was taken to the hospital. When the police tried to locate him, he had fled.

A thorough probe

Sindh Information, Local Government and Housing and Town Planning Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, meanwhile, asserted that severe action would be taken against anyone found to be involved in the tragedy.

Talking to the media, he promised a thorough probe into the ‘regrettable incident’ and stated that action would be taken against whoever was found to be responsible, whether it was the builder or the SBCA. He further said that the government would ensure that no such incident occurred in the future.

At risk buildings

In January, the city administration directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to vacate the 382 residential buildings declared ‘dangerous’.

The majority of the earmarked buildings are located in Saddar, where 295 residential buildings have been declared dangerous. Meanwhile, 44 buildings are in Lyari. Out of the 382 dangerous buildings, 339 were located in South district, 14 in East district and 10 in Central district.

SBCA official Askhar Dawar lamented that evacuation notices had been served to the buildings’ owners but they were not implementing the orders of the building control authority.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2171854-imagex-1583660486/2171854-imagex-1583660486.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Old buildings at risk in Rawalpindi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171597/old-buildings-risk-rawalpindi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171597/old-buildings-risk-rawalpindi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 20 04:46:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.shirazi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2171597</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[City authorities fear these over-age structures might crumble following rains]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Crumbling structures of over a century old buildings are at risk of crashing down following torrential rains endangering the lives and properties of people bent upon living and working in these buildings which had been marked for demolition decades ago.

After a prolonged wet spell in the garrison city over the past week, the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC), Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and Chaklala Cantonment Board have issued red notices to the residents of some 350 buildings in the old city area that were built over a century ago during the British Raj. The residents have been directed to evacuate these old, dilapidated structures as ongoing rain spell posed a serious threat to them.

The owners have further been instructed to either construct these buildings all over again or get them repaired immediately to avoid any mishap.

The violation of orders would lead to a strict action, the notices warned. A survey revealed that these multi-storied buildings declared dangerous for the dwellers were located in Raja Bazaar, Kalaan Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Bhabra Bazaar, Bagh Sardaran, Dingi Khoi, Ratta Amral, Purana Qila, Murree Road and in both the cantonment areas.

Commissioner approves new parking plazas

The district administration has formally approved a project related to the construction of six new parking plazas in the main markets of Rawalpindi to culminate parking problems and expediting trading activities.

In this regard, the Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mahmood chaired a meeting at his office relating traffic problems on Saturday.

These plazas would be built on Kutcheri Chowk, Fawwara Chowk, Jinnah City, Saddar Road, Ghazni Market, Commercial Market, and Bani Market, the participants were told. Meanwhile, the administration has further decided to utilise GTS bus stand in Saddar as a parking lot on an immediate basis to mitigate parking issues there.

Commissioner hoped that the construction of plazas would end existing parking problems apart from speeding up trading activities in the markets.

Mahmood also directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) chairman to provide details of the construction of two additional blocks in Fawwara Chowk parking plaza where the City Traffic Officer (CTO) was instructed to submit a report on the traffic situation in bazaars where the plazas would be constructed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2171597-image-1583612859/2171597-image-1583612859.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Two days on, people still trapped in Rizvia rubble</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171517/two-days-people-still-trapped-rizvia-rubble</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171517/two-days-people-still-trapped-rizvia-rubble#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 20 03:42:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sameer.mandhro]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2171517</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Families wait for a miracle as rescue operations continue after building collapse]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Two days after a residential building collapsed in Rizvia Society, rescuers were still struggling to find several people trapped in the debris on Saturday.  Meanwhile, the death toll for the tragedy rose to 19 as two more bodies were retrieved from the rubble.

Those still missing include five members of the family of retired police official Muhammad Ali Veesar. While two of his sons, Zahid and Rashid, survived the incident, leaving home for work in the morning a few hours before the incident, Veesar, his wife, three daughters and two other sons were in their apartment on the first floor of the building when it caved in.

On Thursday evening, rescue teams recovered the body of Iqra, 16, while another body, that of Tariq, 25, was retrieved late on Saturday evening. The rest of the family - Veesar, Zubeda Khatoon, 15-year-old Sumera, 15-year-old Kainat and 30-year-old Sohail - were still under the debris until the filing of this report, with several of their relatives helping officials in the rescue efforts.

Veesar, 62, was a sub-inspector in the Sindh police at the time of his retirement. The family, originally from Shikarpur, had been residing in the provincial capital for the last 20 years.

“The family could have survived if they [the administration] had better coordinated the efforts,” said Veesar’s nephew Khalid. “I did not see them trying to rescue people alive,” he further alleged.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Khalid said that he had repeatedly requested officials to expedite rescue operations to maximise the chances of survival of those still trapped in the debris.

“The rescue work was very slow and the administration has not taken it seriously,” he said, weeping. “We are helping my cousins and trying to give them hope. We are waiting for a miracle.”

Meanwhile, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation medical and health services director Dr Salma Kausar stated that 17 bodies had been brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital until Friday.

Officials stated that rescue operations by the police, Rangers, army, fire department, Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA) and relief services had been ongoing since the incident occurred, leaving many residents, including at least four children and eight women, dead.

Narrow alleyways restricted the access of heavy machinery to the disaster site, which meant that much of the rubble was being cleared manually, slowing down rescue efforts.

It is not yet confirmed how many people are still trapped in the building.

Protest

The families of the deceased and area residents staged a protest against SCBA officials, demanding the arrest of the building’s owner and compensation for those who lost their loved ones and property in the incident.

They further demanded an inquiry into the negligence of SCBA officials, maintaining that a case should be registered against those government officials who permitted the illegal construction.

The collapsed five-storey building left the adjoining building bent and it is feared that it may collapse, while several parts of a third building have also caved in. Additionally, a fourth building has been declared ‘dangerous.’

On Friday, an FIR, citing negligence, damage to private and public property and deaths due to the incident, was registered against the building’s owner at the Rizvia police station on behalf of the government. The owner is currently on the run.

According to the FIR, the owner, Javed Khan, had committed criminal negligence in the construction of the building, due to which the structure had collapsed. It further states that the building was constructed in violation of regulations, for which various government officials are to blame.

Sources said that police have not traced Khan, adding that he managed to escape from the hospital as he was also among the injured in the incident.

The Rizvia SHO and other police officials were unable to comment on the arrest or other matters pertaining to the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2171517-rizvia-1583638828/2171517-rizvia-1583638828.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Another building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2170920/another-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2170920/another-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 20 05:44:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2170920</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It is hoped that now the government moves seriously to eliminate underhand dealings]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In recent years, a considerable number of buildings have collapsed in cities of Sindh, including Karachi, resulting in many deaths. Many have suffered injuries and many life-long disabilities. Conditions worsened so much so that the Supreme Court instructed the provincial government to act to stem the rot. In the past week, the provincial government suspended 28 officials, including directors and deputy directors, of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA). While inquiry is underway against these officials, on Thursday a five-storey building collapsed in Gulbahar area of Karachi leaving 13 dead and at least 38 others injured. Doctors say most of the deaths had been caused due to head injuries. Several of the injured are in a serious condition and they too had suffered injuries in the head. The five-storey building was constructed around three years ago and the sixth storey was under construction. The building was in a congested lane. Rescue officials said it appeared that pillars of the building were weak besides there were other flaws in the structure. All this points to negligence and corruption. This takes on added significance because of the frequent collapse of buildings.

There are instances where it has been established that additions to buildings had been allowed beyond the permissible limits. It is mostly such buildings that have collapsed. It is obvious why officials of the SBCA turn a blind eye to unauthorised constructions. The government has ordered an inquiry into the Gulbahar building collapse. It is hoped that now the government moves seriously to eliminate underhand dealings, inefficiency and mismanagement.

After the recent suspension of 28 officials of the SBCA, there were press reports quoting knowledgeable sources that the officials whose suspension orders were issued had been working till the suspension notices were served to them. Some of the officials were working for the SBCA while they were already facing NAB inquiries for acquiring assets beyond their known sources of income. A raid by a NAB team on the home of a senior official of the SBCA had reportedly led to the recovery of large amounts of money, several luxury cars and other valuables.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2251759-editorialxfinalfix-15932815781594457933-0/2251759-editorialxfinalfix-15932815781594457933-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>13 dead, over 30 injured as five-storey residential building collapses in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2169891/five-story-residential-building-collapses-karachis-rizvia-society</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2169891/five-story-residential-building-collapses-karachis-rizvia-society#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 20 07:53:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sameer.mandhro]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2169891</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue workers say residents are trapped under the rubble]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 13 people died and dozens others sustained injuries when a five-storey residential building in Karachi's Rizvia Society collapsed on Thursday.

Karachi Metropolitan Cooperation Director Medical and Health Services Dr Salma Kauser confirmed that 13 people had been died in the accident.

At least 32 people sustained injuries and two of them with serious wounds have been shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), she added.

“The lists of all those injured and dead in the building collapse have also been placed outside the hospital,” the medical officer said.

There is no shortage of the medicine, she added.

According to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital MLO Dr Sohail Khan, five women and two children were among the deceased.

Police and Sindh Rangers personnel also reached the incident site to assist in the rescue effort. Locals were seen digging through the rubble and were trying to rescue those trapped.

Families of the victims, however, express dissatisfaction with the rescue efforts.

A contingent of engineers from the Pakistan Army has also arrived at the scene to assist rescue officials. Initial reports suggest the building was constructed two years ago.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani to ensure people are safely recovered from the rubble. The chief minister also sought a detailed report, questioning whether the building was a legal construction.

In January, the city administration directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to vacate the 382 residential buildings declared ‘dangerous’.

The majority of the earmarked buildings are located in Saddar, where 295 residential buildings have been declared dangerous. Meanwhile, 44 buildings are in Lyari. Out of the 382 dangerous buildings, 339 were located in South district, 14 in East district and 10 in Central district.

SBCA official Askhar Dawar lamented that evacuation notices had been served to the buildings’ owners but they were not implementing the orders of the building control authority.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2169891-etlogo___still-1583397327/2169891-etlogo___still-1583397327.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Another building at risk of collapsing in Timber Market</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2128263/another-building-risk-collapsing-timber-market</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2128263/another-building-risk-collapsing-timber-market#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jan 20 04:51:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2128263</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Meanwhile, efforts for clearing debris, accumulated due to the collapse of six-storey building, are underway]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Just a day after a six-story building collapsed and was reduced to rubble in Timber Market, on Monday night, fear arose of another building in the same area likely to suffer the same fate.

A four-storey building located on Bandook Wala Road, near Old Haji Camp, is identified to have a crumbling structure. Cracks have appeared on the building's pillars and walls as is it is feared to collapse, also causing damage to other structures situated adjacent to it.

However, despite being warned of the looming disaster, the building's inhabitants have refused to vacate their houses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, All Pakistan Timber Traders Association Chairperson Muhammad Sharjeel Goplani said that the building was constructed in 2004 and housed eight apartments that are mostly inhabited by labourers.

Claiming that the Sindh Building Control Authority had been informed about the building derelict condition, he said that so far, SBCA officials had not taken any measures in this regard and no officials from the department had visited the site to inspect the building.

Raising concerns over the crumbling state of the building, Goplani said that if the building collapsed, lives could be lost and the residents were to suffer from financial loss as well. Revealing that the building was illegally constructed on a footpath, he stressed the need to raze it and appealed to the relevant authorities to take immediate measures so as to avoid any untoward occurrence.

Meanwhile, removal of debris, accumulated following the collapse of a six-storey building in the area, was initiated Monday night, after lights were installed at the location. The clearing work continued throughout the day on Tuesday.

As a result of the collapse, 24 families have been left homeless.

The affected families lamented their loss, saying that they were deprived of the shelter of their homes and weren't able to retrieve their belongings from under the rubble. Each of the apartment inside the building cost between Rs3 million and Rs4 million, they said, and questioned that who would compensate for their loss.

"I had managed to save Rs600,000, pooling funds in a committee, but all that money is now lost under the debris," said a woman, who asked not to be named. "

The affected families have appealed to the government to help them recover the loss.

Meanwhile, SBCA has set up a seven-member committee, headed by SBCA additional director general, to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to identify the reasons behind the collapse, material used for its construction as well as how the approval was given for its construction. It has been given 15 days to complete the investigation and submit a report to SBCA director general.

Police and rescue teams have been deployed at the place of the incident and political parties have set up camps to provide relief to the displaced persons.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2020.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/2128263-constructionafp-1577854169/2128263-constructionafp-1577854169.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Three dead, dozens feared buried in Cambodia building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1997853/three-dead-dozens-feared-buried-cambodia-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1997853/three-dead-dozens-feared-buried-cambodia-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jun 19 06:13:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1997853</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Seven-storey building in the beach town of Sihanoukville collapses with workers inside]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least three people died when an under-construction building collapsed at a Cambodian beach resort early Saturday, officials said, with fears dozens more may be buried in the rubble.

The seven-storey building in the beach town of Sihanoukville, owned by a Chinese company, collapsed with workers inside.

"We have pulled out a body and we see two more bodies still stuck between debris," Yun Min, the governor of Preah Sihanouk province, told AFP, adding 13 people were injured.

Images showed excavators digging into the flattened debris in the hunt for dozens of other workers feared to be trapped inside.

"There are more than 30 people in the pile of debris from the building," Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said in a Facebook post, citing witnesses.

Teenager rescued two days after Istanbul building collapse

He said all of the dead were Cambodian, including two workers and a translator.

Governor Yun Min said around 50 workers would normally have been on the site at the time.

"We have rescued 20 so far... we still can't say exactly how many are trapped in the debris," he said, adding some may not have been at work at the time of the accident.

Rescue workers in hard hats heaved chunks of broken cement from the flattened building, looking for anyone buried underneath, while the diggers shunted twisted metal to the side.

Medical workers attended to a shirtless injured man, as concerned crowds built up around the site.

The building belonged to a Chinese national who rented the land from a Cambodian owner.

Sihanoukville was once a sleepy fishing community before being claimed first by Western backpackers, and then wealthy Russians.

Nine trapped in Shanghai building collapse: govt

Chinese investment has flooded in in recent years, spurring a construction boom in a resort town known for its casinos which pull in mainland tourists.

There are around 50 Chinese-owned casinos and dozens of hotel complexes under construction.

Between 2016 and 2018, $1 billion was invested by Chinese government and private businesses in the Preah Sihanouk province, according to official statistics.

Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, has notoriously lax safety laws and labour protections. Accidents are common at its building sites.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1997853-cambodiacollapse-1561183691/1997853-cambodiacollapse-1561183691.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Five killed in Shanghai building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1974481/five-killed-shanghai-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1974481/five-killed-shanghai-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 19 11:59:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1974481</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Accident occurred in a central Shanghai neighbourhood, trapping around 20 people]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Five people were killed on Thursday when the roof of a Shanghai commercial building caved in upon construction workers who were renovating it, the city government said.

The accident occurred at around 11:30am (0330 GMT) in a central Shanghai neighbourhood, trapping around 20 people, according to fire rescue officials.

Official sources provided differing tallies of the numbers of people pulled out of the rubble throughout the day, but both the city government and the national emergency ministry now quote a death toll of five.

A verified social media account run by China's emergency ministry showed pictures of rescue personnel digging bloodied and dust-coated workers out from amid piles of rubble, toppled concrete pillars and shattered wooden beams.

Authorities did not give details on the severity of the injuries suffered by survivors.

Police quickly sealed off the area with a huge security presence, preventing journalists from getting close.

The building had previously been used as a dealership for Mercedes-Benz cars, the fire rescue bureau said.

It was being redeveloped as a mixed-use arts and innovation site, according to Chinese media reports.

A local resident said she was taking a nap when her bed suddenly began shaking, as if in an earthquake had struck. She then heard a loud bang.

"I thought it was an explosion at first," said the woman, who declined to give her name or to comment further.

Chinese media reports said the structure was around 3,000 square metres (32,000 square feet) in area. Aerial pictures on social media appeared to indicate that the roof of about half of the building collapsed.

China has seen numerous building collapses in recent years, typically blamed on the country's rapid growth leading to corner-cutting on construction, and the flouting of safety rules.

At least 20 people were killed in 2016 when a series of crudely-constructed multi-storey buildings that were packed with migrant workers collapsed in the eastern city of Wenzhou.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1974481-chinabuildingcollapse-1558007831/1974481-chinabuildingcollapse-1558007831.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Three dead, several feared trapped as building collapses in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1917751/two-dead-several-fear-trapped-building-collapses-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1917751/two-dead-several-fear-trapped-building-collapses-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 19 05:19:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1917751</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Operation underway to rescue people trapped underneath debris]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least three people were killed as a residential building collapsed in Karachi's Jaffar Tayyara Society on Monday, reported Express News.

The four-storey apartment building collapsed at around 7:30 am and rescue efforts are still underway, as officials fear several people are trapped under the debris.

Initial reports suggest at least 16 people were residing in the building. Officials confirmed that at least two people have been rescued and transferred to a hospital till now. An injured child was also recovered from the debris by the rescue team.

As for the cause of the collapse, officials said a house was under construction adjacent to the affected building and may have been a contributing factor.

Five members of a family trapped under rubble as building collapses in Lahore

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and has sought a report immediately.

Similarly, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has directed the Karachi commissioner to mobilise all resources to expedite the rescue operation.

"Human lives should be saved at all costs. Such tragedies are a result of the poor performance of the Karachi Building Control Authority and Malir Development Authority," said Ismail.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1917751-malbax-1551070198/1917751-malbax-1551070198.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Teenager rescued two days after Istanbul building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1906361/teenager-rescued-two-days-istanbul-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1906361/teenager-rescued-two-days-istanbul-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 19 13:26:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1906361</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A 16-year old boy was rescued from under the rubble after two days of collapse]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A teenage boy was rescued from the rubble of an eight-storey Istanbul building on Friday, nearly 48 hours after it collapsed, but the death toll rose to 14 and another 11 people are still missing, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.

The residential building, in the Kartal district on the Asian side of the city, collapsed on Wednesday.

Fourteen apartments were registered at the site but the top three floors of the building had been built illegally, the city’s governor said this week, and a textile workshop was operating without a licence at the entrance.

At least two killed after building collapses in Turkey's Istanbul

More bodies were pulled from the rubble on Friday, raising the death toll to 14, Soylu told a news conference, adding that 11 others were still being sought by emergency teams.

A 16-year old boy was rescued from under the rubble early on Friday, two days after the collapse, footage from the site showed.

Seven nearby buildings were evacuated for security reasons on Thursday, while prosecutors in Istanbul carried out an investigation into the cause of the incident.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1906361-istanbul-1549632081/1906361-istanbul-1549632081.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least two killed after building collapses in Turkey's Istanbul</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1904801/least-one-killed-building-collapses-istanbul</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1904801/least-one-killed-building-collapses-istanbul#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 19 14:17:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1904801</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The top three floors of the building had been built illegally, says official]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least two people were killed and six wounded after an eight-storey residential building collapsed in Istanbul on Wednesday, the governor's office said.

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1093149766358351872

It was not immediately clear why the building, in the Kartal district on the Asian side of the city, had collapsed. Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the site that 43 people were registered in 14 apartments at the address, but that the top three floors of the building had been built illegally.

Yerlikaya also said there was a textile workshop on the ground floor that was operating without a licence. The chairman for Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said search and rescue operations were underway.

President Tayyip Erdogan sent the interior and environment ministers to the site, state-owned Anadolu agency reported. Emergency teams pulled at least three people out alive as crowds surrounded the site. Roads leading to the building were blocked by vehicles and crowds.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1904801-mirrorcombuilding-1549462344/1904801-mirrorcombuilding-1549462344.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Building collapse in Delhi suburb kills at least two, more feared dead</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1760793/building-collapse-delhi-suburb-kills-least-two-feared-dead</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1760793/building-collapse-delhi-suburb-kills-least-two-feared-dead#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 18 06:20:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1760793</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Building collapses in India are more common during the current monsoon season]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A six-storey building collapsed into an adjacent construction site in Greater Noida near New Delhi killing at least two people, police said on Wednesday, as rescuers searched for more people feared trapped in the rubble.

Police said the building that collapsed on Tuesday night had been constructed a few years ago and did not appear to have many occupants.

Tragic collapse: Three minors among six crushed under building

“We have recovered two bodies from the bottom, how many more are there is hard to say. But people in the area are telling us there were not many families who had shifted to the building, and there were mostly construction workers who lived here,” said Ram Kumar police inspector general.

Four die in building collapse after explosion in Poland

A local media outlet earlier reported that at least 50 people were feared trapped.

Building collapses in India are more common during the current monsoon season, aggravated by the use of poor building materials, police and residents say.

“This was clearly a weak structure,” said Kumar.

Greater Noida is one of a cluster of areas that have sprung up around the Indian capital over the last decade, home to scores of residential and commercial blocks, many of them unfinished structures for lack of funds or approvals from the state local authorities.

Building collapse kills 10 in central India

About 100 people were involved in the night long rescue effort using cranes to clear the rubble, officials said. A dog squad sent in to look for survivors did not find any, PK Srivastava, commandant of the National Disaster Response Force said.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1760793-download-1531894669/1760793-download-1531894669.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Building collapse kills 10 in central India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1674701/building-collapse-kills-10-central-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1674701/building-collapse-kills-10-central-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 18 06:48:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1674701</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Building disasters are common in Indian cities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A dilapidated four-storey building has collapsed in a central Indian city killing at least 10 people, police said Sunday, the latest such disaster in a country infamous for poor construction and safety standards.

Rescue workers retrieved several people left trapped under tonnes of debris after the building collapsed in a crowded neighbourhood of Indore on Saturday night.

Diplomats' harassment: Pakistan, India agree to resolve issue through talks

"We pulled out 12 people from under the debris. Ten of them have died," police inspector Sanju Kamle told AFP.

Local media reports said the collapse took place after a car drove into the building's front portion.

"We are investigating. At the moment it is difficult to say how it collapsed," Kamle said.

Rescue workers had managed to clear the debris and some of the injured were being treated at a government-run hospital, Kamle added.

Building disasters are common in Indian cities where millions are forced to live in cramped, run-down properties due to spiralling real estate prices and a lack of proper housing.

Activists say owners often cut corners on construction to save costs with little regard to safety.

Top Pakistan diplomat leaves for India to discuss water conflict

Some 30 people perished in September last year when a 117-year-old apartment building collapsed in India's financial hub of Mumbai.

And in 2013, 60 people were killed when a residential block came crashing down in one of the country's worst housing disasters.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1674701-dzqlnmwaabmko-1522565112/1674701-dzqlnmwaabmko-1522565112.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Tragic collapse: Three minors among six crushed under building</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1602580/tragic-collapse-three-minors-among-six-crushed-building</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1602580/tragic-collapse-three-minors-among-six-crushed-building#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jan 18 06:48:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1602580</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Six others injured as residence in Old City area caves in]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Six people, including a couple, their two sons, a minor girl student and a passerby were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in Chota Mufi Baqar near Masjid Wazir Khan at Delhi Gate on Saturday. Six passersby were also injured in the incident. Another minor was also trapped under the debris, but ultimately pulled out by rescue teams. It took more than seven hours for the operation to be completed.

The incident occurred at around 8.30 am when Ghulam Abbass, who worked as a video editor, was asleep on the ground floor of his house with Marium, his wife. Their three children Ali Zad, Zad-e-Haider and Sabih Hassan were also sleeping at the residence when the structure caved in, trapping the whole family, a minor student and another passerby under the debris.

Six passersby were also injured after being hit by construction material. Omar, a shopkeeper who ran a General Store a few yards away from the site, told The Express Tribune he was at work when a huge rumble occurred.

“I was shocked. When I looked around, there were clouds of dust everywhere and all one heard were screams,” he recalled. He and other locals rushed to the scene and witnessed a child screaming to be rescued. They called rescue teams who rushed to the scene and evacuated the boy, who was identified as Sabih Hassan, the son of Ghulam Abbass.

The team started rescue an operation, but faced great difficulty as the area was congested. Officials said the streets were narrow and rescue vehicles had to be parked some distance away from the site. The workers started removing the debris on donkey carts for disposal.

The victims were asleep on the ground floor of the three storey building so it was also difficult to locate them. Deputy Commissioner Lahore Sameer Ahmad said that they used the latest technology, such as a live locator, to spot the trapped victims. After three hours of rescue work, the teams recovered two children who were rushed to Mayo Hospital for treatment. However, Ali Zad and Zad-e-Haider, sons of Ghulam Abbass, were announced as dead on arrival. Four more hours were taken to recover the other five victims and the deceased among them were identified as Minaal, a school-going child, and Qadeer. They were residents of an area near the scene of the tragedy.



Relatives of the victims were overcome with grief at the site, while the incident spread panic in the locality where a huge number of people had gathered. Local body representatives, officers of the Walled City, Lahore DC Sameer Ahmad and City SP Ali Raza also made an appearance.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed, including officials of the Anti-Riot Force. DSPs and SHOs of the area remained at the scene to deal with any potential law and order situation. The building, which ultimately collapsed, was in a dilapidated state and this caused the mishap.

This is not the first time people fell victim to building or roof collapses in the Delhi Gate area of Old Lahore. In August 2016, five people of the same family were killed in a tragic turn of events. A wedding ceremony was planned on the day after the incident and the bride was among the victims.

The deceased were identified as Tafseela, 40, her daughter, Aqsa, 9, sister Dua, 35, Mehwish, 28, and Parveen. The injured were identified as three-month-old Haram, one-and-a-half-year-old Ayaan, Mahnoor, 3, Rehman, 4, Nabeela, 30 and Jameel, 45.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2018.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1602580-image-1515266388/1602580-image-1515266388.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Five members of a family trapped under rubble as building collapses in Lahore</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1602160/five-members-family-trapped-rubble-building-collapses-lahore</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1602160/five-members-family-trapped-rubble-building-collapses-lahore#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jan 18 08:17:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Muhammad Shahzad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1602160</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Five-storey building was located in the old city area around the Delhi Gate]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Five members of a family are trapped under the debris of a five-storey building which collapsed in the Chota area of Delhi Gate in Lahore on Saturday morning.

"There's no confirmation about the number of victims trapped under the rubble," District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sameer Ahmad said while talking to the media.

"Rescue teams are using the latest technology and live locators to identify the victims trapped inside, and have evacuated one person so far," he added.

Five members of a family, a couple and their three children, were sleeping on the ground floor of the building when the incident took place.

The victims were identified as Ghulam Abbas, his wife Marium, and their sons Ali, Haider and Sabih Hassan.

16 killed, dozens trapped as roof of factory collapses in Lahore

Sabih Hassan, the minor victim, has been recovered and is reportedly alive and well at the hospital.

According to reports, some children on their way to school and other by-standers present near the building when it collapsed could also be hurt in the incident.

The building was situated inside old city, which is an extremely congested area. A majority of houses there were constructed decades ago, and are in dilapidated condition today.

Teams of helpers are facing problems in conducting rescue operations due to the narrow streets, eye-witnesses say.

Weak structures: Five people killed in roof collapse incidents in City

The incident has created panic in the locality, and a large number of residents have gathered around the collapsed debris. A contingent of police officials is present to maintain the law and order situation of the area.

"I was busy in my morning routine when I was shocked with a deafening sound. Looking around, there were screams and clouds of dust everywhere. A minor victim crying for help," Omar, who runs a general store nearby, told reporters.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1602160-collapsedbuilding-1515221036/1602160-collapsedbuilding-1515221036.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Labourer killed in roof collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1567692/labourer-killed-roof-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1567692/labourer-killed-roof-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Nov 17 06:10:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1567692</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue 1122 officials said that labourers were busy in working in the factory when its roof collapsed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A labourer was killed while two others suffered injuries when the roof of an under-construction furniture factory building collapsed in Timbre Market. Rescue 1122 officials said that labourers were busy in working in the factory when its roof collapsed.

Building collapse in India's Mumbai kills one; over a dozen feared trapped

As a result, Muhammad Sharif was killed, while Ramzan and Muhammad Shakir suffered injuries. The injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, custom staff seized 14 mobile phones from two passengers at Multan International Airport.

CDA moves against illegal construction

Customs Assistant Collector Omer Bin Zafar said the customs staff deputed at the airport seized nine smart phones, including six brand new and three slightly used from a passenger, Kumail Hussain, who had come from Dubai.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2017.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1567692-faisaledhiatliaqatabadbuildingcollapsedjulyatharkhan-1511586749/1567692-faisaledhiatliaqatabadbuildingcollapsedjulyatharkhan-1511586749.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Building collapse in India's Mumbai kills one; over a dozen feared trapped</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1567222/building-collapse-indias-mumbai-kills-one-dozen-feared-trapped</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1567222/building-collapse-indias-mumbai-kills-one-dozen-feared-trapped#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Nov 17 08:15:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1567222</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The collapse is the latest in a spate of building collapses in the city]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Part of a four-storey building collapsed in the suburbs of the Indian city of Mumbai on Friday, killing at least one person and trapping more than a dozen, police said, the latest in a string of collapses in the financial hub.

Building by-laws: MDA to take action against violators

"We have rescued six people and recovered one dead body," said a police official, who declined to be identified. A National Disaster Response Force team was likely to join the rescue operation, the official said, adding that the reason for the collapse was not known.

Dental clinic inside multi-storey building gutted in blaze

The collapse is the latest in a spate of building collapses in the city where many thousands of people occupy dilapidated old buildings, even if city officials have officially labelled them uninhabitable. In August, 34 people were killed when a 117-year-old six storey-building collapsed. The previous month, about 17 people were killed in a four-storey building collapse.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1567222-MumbaiCollapseREUTERS-1511510816/1567222-MumbaiCollapseREUTERS-1511510816.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Liaquatabad building collapse leaves families in despair</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1461783/liaquatabad-building-collapse-leaves-families-despair</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1461783/liaquatabad-building-collapse-leaves-families-despair#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jul 17 05:24:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zubair Ashraf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1461783</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two adjoining buildings were evacuated and will be taken down due to damaged structures]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Over the years, the map of Liaquatabad and of other localities of Karachi grew in a triangular fashion. As the population soared, the size of houses decreased and the heights of buildings increased.

The vibrant town located in District Central was shaken up when a building collapsed on Tuesday, killing five people and injuring a dozen, including children. The authorities continued to remove the debris the following day and control the damage that had already been done.

Consoling his mother and other women clad in burqas, a resident, Zeeshan, sat staring at the debris of the multi-storey building in which they had a flat they considered home. He lost his 32-year-old brother, Faisal, and a seven-year-old nephew, Ayan, while his sister-in-law was in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The ill-fated family had rented a two-room flat for Rs10,000 per month in the building that collapsed.

With a loud bang: Five people die in Liaquatabad building collapse

"A number of times the landlord was asked to repair the cracks appearing in the building but he ignored us," Zeeshan said, while sobbing. "We complained that it looked like the house was under the influence of spirits when the cement used to fall from the top." There was a leakage in the water tank above and had seepage on the walls, he added.

A crowd had converged at the site where the building collapsed. The police and city wardens busied themselves preventing people from crossing the safety perimeters around the building. Majority of the people were from the same neighbourhood andwere unhappy with the building control authorities and political parties.

"These people [political party representatives, elected people and the city administration] do their photo sessions every time an incident takes place and the media provides them this service," said Abdul Ghani, a middle-aged man who lives on the street next to the building and runs a grocery shop one block away.

Builders happy with LDA initiatives

He offered to show the backyard of his house, the door of which opens into a narrow street that is known as Gandi Gali (dirty lane). The street is filled with blackish water running down in a stream and the stench of rotting vegetables and sewage. Heaps of used clothes, plastic bags, vegetable waste and baby diapers could be seen. Most of the houses open into Gandi Gali.

District administration staffers continue their work on the debris. The two adjoining buildings that were partially damaged by the collapse were evacuated and the residents were told that the buildings will be taken down too because of the damaged structure.

This perturbed the family of Yasir, a puncture mechanic, whose shop is located in the building on the right of the collapsed building and home in the building on the left. Both the buildings are partially damaged. "Where should we go? This is the only place we have and now the authorities want to snatch it from us," he said, adding that he will not go anywhere.

Casualties feared as building collapses in Karachi

Tanvir Baig, a relative of Yasir's, showed the damage caused to the house. The family claimed that their house was robbed during the initial rescue work.  "We had just gotten Rs40,000 from the committee [a traditional practice of money pooling]. The money has been stolen, as well as the jewellery that was meant to be given as dowry to our younger sister who is getting married in six months," Baig said. "We opened our doors for the people to help with the rescue work, but this is what they have done to us," he lamented.

The work to remove the debris is still under way. The District Central deputy commissioner inspected the site, instructed his subordinates and spoke to the media.

While pointing to a five to six-storey building located just in front of the collapsed building, a resident, Rizwan, said he thought this building fell when he heard the bang. "But it was the other. This building was recently turned into a high-rise building on the structure of a decaying house," he explained.

Residents of 354 unsafe buildings in Karachi given eviction notices

According to Rizwan, such houses are found at every street corner and nobody cares. "On one hand, there are government officials and on the other are political parties' workers who have such a notoriety that people avoid their interference," he commented, while putting his hand on a wall painted with an election campaign ad from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and looked up at the pole where Pakistan Peoples Party flags were recently mounted.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1461783-web-1500481639/1461783-web-1500481639.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>With a loud bang: Five people die in Liaquatabad building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1460567/3-killed-7-wounded-residential-building-collapses-karachis-liaquatabad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1460567/3-killed-7-wounded-residential-building-collapses-karachis-liaquatabad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jul 17 06:35:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[faraz.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1460567</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mayor blames SBCA, terms building 'illegal']]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A father, son and a woman were among at least five people who lost their lives while thirteen others trapped under the debris were rescued when a multi-storey residential building collapsed on Tuesday in a congested Liaquatabad neighbourhood.

The deceased were identified as 13-year-old Ayan and his father, 34-year-old Faisal, Abdul Wahab, 21, Muhammad Tariq, 20, and Zebunissa 23. The injured were identified as Samreen, Rukhsana, Zarina, Wajid, Shoaib, Akbar, Nadir, Safdar, Irshad, Nazir Hussain, Shahbaz, Ali and Hashim.

The three-storey building, housing apartments and a hotel on the ground floor, was located at the popular Sarya Gali in Liaquatabad No 9.The building 'suddenly' collapsed at around 2:25am with a loud bang.

Casualties feared as building collapses in Karachi

"It seemed as if someone fired a missile on our building as the building collapsed with a loud bang," said an injured tenant, Safdar.

"The rescuers were providing us with oxygen otherwise it would have been very difficult to survive for at least two hours under the debris," he said.

Over two dozen occupants were present at the building when the incident occurred. However, some of the occupants were immediately rescued as area people immediately gathered at the spot to help rescue them before the arrival of the rescuers from different departments.

Child dies as roof of a house collapses in Karachi's Ranchore Line

Later, heavy machinery was also called at the site to help in the rescue operation but the rescuers worked manually. "Using heavy machinery in the initial stage could be more dangerous as more lives could be lost," said Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra while visiting the site.

"We used the cutters to rescue the people trapped under the debris and we were successful in doing so," Vohra said.

The almost 25-year-old building was constructed in violation of the city's building rules and regulations. Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar blamed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and termed the building as 'illegal'.

"Builders are constructing four-storey buildings in the area despite having permission for a ground-plus-two-storey," explained Akhtar. "[The] SBCA chief should be asked how multi-storey residential buildings are being constructed in the area," Akhtar said.

Residents of 354 unsafe buildings in Karachi given eviction notices

The concerned authorities confirmed there were five deaths in the building collapse. "Five bodies were recovered from the rubble," Karachi Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Fareeduddin Mustafa said.

"Rescue officials were avoiding the use of heavy machinery keeping in view the possible presence of more survivors in the debris," Mustafa said.

All machinery required for the rescue operation was present at the building collapse site, he said, adding that it could take up to 24 hours to remove the debris after an incident of this nature.

SBCA forms inquiry committee

Meanwhile, SBCA Director-General Agha Maqsood Abbas has formed an inquiry committee comprising Pakistan Engineering Council Vice-Chairperson Mukhtar Sheikh, Ashkar Dawar, Consulting Structure Engineer Essa Babar and Deputy Director Ali Ghufran. The committee will compile a report on the incident within 15 days.

More casualties feared: Building collapse kills one, injures four in Multan

SBCA officials said that the building collapsed due to its dilapidated structure. "It was a ground-plus-one-storey building while the second floor was temporarily constructed," said SBCA Dangerous Buildings Director Ashkar Dawar.

"The building collapsed due to its old structure and its base also deteriorated due to the seepage of sewerage and rain water," Dawar claimed.

Helpless residents

According to the residents of the area, the building's foundation was weakened due to stagnant water from the sewage that remained in the street almost all the time. The situation worsened because of the rains, they said.

At least two dead as under-construction building collapses in Multan

"One could see the crumbling walls and a side of the building slightly buried in the ground," Mobin Baig, a resident of the adjacent street, told The Express Tribune.

Another resident, Fakharuddin Salim, said that the incident was bound to happen. "In all of Liaquatabad, you cannot build a house more than two storeys, but see the buildings around this ill-fated house," he said, questioning the failure of authorities to check illegal constructions.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1460567-faisaledhiat_1735800001/1460567-faisaledhiat_1735800001.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Several missing after Kenya building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1434422/several-missing-kenya-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1434422/several-missing-kenya-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jun 17 07:56:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1434422</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Building collapses are recurrent problem in Kenya as construction standards are weakened by chronic corruption]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Several people were missing Tuesday after a seven-storey building collapsed overnight in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, rescue officials said.

Residents were evacuated to safety when the building developed cracks and then collapsed, police said. "There are people reported missing in the tragedy," a senior police officer said.

Casualties feared as building collapses in Karachi

A total of 121 people are accounted for, said Pius Masai, deputy head of communications at the National Disaster Management Unit.
"It is believed that some people may have been trapped. Rescue efforts are ongoing," he said in a statement.

He "appealed to anyone with cutters, drillers and any other extrication equipment" to support search and rescue efforts.
The incident occurred late Monday in the Quarry area in Mukuru Kwa Reuben slum in the sprawling city's southeast.

At least two dead as under-construction building collapses in Multan

Building collapses are a recurrent problem in Kenya, where construction standards are weakened by chronic corruption.
In April 2016, 49 people were killed when a six-storey building collapsed in northeastern Nairobi after torrential rain.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1434422-download-1497340484/1434422-download-1497340484.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Casualties feared as building collapses in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1383599/casualties-feared-building-collapses-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1383599/casualties-feared-building-collapses-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 17 09:06:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[faraz.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1383599</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue operation underway; reason behind collapse yet to be ascertained]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Scores of people are feared to be have been trapped as a part of a residential building collapsed in Karachi's Mauripur area on Friday.

A rescue operation is under way and people are being pulled out from under the debris. The reason behind the collapse of the building is yet to be ascertained.

[caption id="attachment_1383664" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: EXPRESS[/caption]

Earlier in January, at least six labourers were feared dead as roof of an under-construction market building in Gujranwala caved in. Sources said the labourers were working on the under construction building when its roof collapsed, trapping them under the rubble in the city’s Model Town area. The reason of the incident could not immediately be ascertained. However, rescue workers reached to the scene and started efforts to pull out the labourers from the debris.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1383599-edhi-1492159346/1383599-edhi-1492159346.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>India building collapse kills four, more feared trapped</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1314112/india-building-collapse-kills-four-feared-trapped</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1314112/india-building-collapse-kills-four-feared-trapped#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 17 14:02:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1314112</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Workers were placing a concrete slab on the top floor of the seven-storey building when it came crashing down]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A building under construction collapsed Wednesday in northern India killing at least four labourers, an administrative official said, in the latest deadly accident to highlight shoddy construction standards in the country.

Workers were placing a concrete slab on the top floor of the seven-storey residential building in Uttar Pradesh state's Kanpur district when it came crashing down.

"Four labourers have been killed in the collapse and 17 have been rushed to a hospital with injuries," the area's top administrative official, Kaushal Raj, told AFP by telephone.

At least 75 people injured in Tehran building collapse

Raj said the rescue operation would continue overnight "since there are some 30 more who are feared trapped under the debris".

Television footage showed earth-moving machines and soldiers using bare hands and mechanical diggers to remove mangled slabs of concrete and steel as rescuers in yellow hard hats rushed to the spot with stretchers.

At least 67 killed in China construction accident

Home Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to offer his condolences.

"I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Singh said.

The accident is the latest in a long line of deadly building collapses in India.

In December, nine people died when a building came down in southern India while under construction.

A massive influx of people to cities in search of jobs and a shortage of cheap housing have fuelled the construction of illegal buildings across the country, often with sub-standard material.

Millions also live in dilapidated old buildings, many of which cave in during heavy rains.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1314112-indiabuildingcollapse-1485957644/1314112-indiabuildingcollapse-1485957644.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Six feared dead as under-construction building collapses in Gujranwala</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1312643/six-feared-dead-construction-building-collapses-gujranwala</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1312643/six-feared-dead-construction-building-collapses-gujranwala#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 17 12:47:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1312643</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sources say labourers, trapped under the rubble, were busy working when the roof of the building caved in]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least six labourers were feared dead as roof of an under-construction market building in Gujranwala caved in on Tuesday, Express News reported.

Sources said that the labourers were working on the under construction building when its roof collapsed, trapping them under the rubble in the city’s Model Town area.

The reason of the incident could not immediately be ascertained. However, rescue workers reached to the scene and started efforts to pull out the labourers from the debris.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1312643-reu-1485866259/1312643-reu-1485866259.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least 75 people injured in Tehran building collapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1300654/dozens-iran-firefighters-feared-trapped-building-collapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1300654/dozens-iran-firefighters-feared-trapped-building-collapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 17 09:47:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1300654</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Plasco building was the first high-rise and shopping centre in Tehran]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least 75 people, including 45 firefighters, were injured when a blazing high-rise commercial building in downtown Tehran collapsed, Iranian state television reported on Thursday.

One witness described the 17-storey tower's collapse as like a "scene from a horror movie". "At least 45 firefighters are among the injured ones. All of the injured people were sent to hospitals. Most of them have been discharged," state TV reported.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] Fire breaks out in a high-rise building in Tehran, Iran January 19, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]

Dramatic images showed flames pouring out of the top floors of the building, which dated from the early 1960s and included a shopping centre and clothing workshops.

Iran’s former president Rafsanjani dead at 82

"The building's caretaker and some firefighters were inside when the building collapsed," said Ahmad, a shop owner in the building. "I've lost my entire stock. Thousands of families have been ruined," he added.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] Smoke rises from a blazing high-rise building in Tehran, Iran January 19, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]

The steel skeleton of the building could be seen bending down to the ground as around 100 fire engines and dozens of ambulances surrounded the area. "A friend of mine has a shop there. I keep calling him but there's no answer. I think he's been trapped," said Mohsen, an onlooker.

Police evacuated the area around the building, fearing secondary explosions caused by gas leaks, and worked to clear crowds that were blocking access for rescue services.

"There a number of people inside but we don't know how many and the fire brigade organisation is going to announce how many were there," Tehran police chief Hossein Sajedinia told AFP. "Even one would be too many," he added.

Saudi Arabia condemns 15 to death for spying for Iran

Fire brigade spokesperson Jalal Malekias said the building was known to breach safety standards. "We had repeatedly warned the building managers about the lack of safety of the building," he said, adding that it lacked sufficient fire extinguishers. "Even in the stairwells, a lot of clothing is stored and this is against safety standards. The managers didn't pay attention to the warnings," he told state television.

The Plasco building was the first high-rise and shopping centre in Tehran and was the city's tallest building when it was finished in 1962, before being dwarfed by the construction boom of later years. It was built by Habibollah Elghanian, a prominent Iranian-Jewish businessman who was arrested for ties to Israel and sentenced to death and executed after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The fire is thought to have begun on the ninth floor and spread quickly to workshops above. Firefighters were initially able to bring it under control but it quickly flared up and the building fell four hours after the fire had started, at around 11:30 am (0800 GMT).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvvCt5cAZdU]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1300654-iranbuildingcollapsereuters-1484823820/1300654-iranbuildingcollapsereuters-1484823820.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>More casualties feared: Building collapse kills one, injures four in Multan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1291062/casualties-feared-building-collapse-kills-one-injures-four-multan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1291062/casualties-feared-building-collapse-kills-one-injures-four-multan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 17 21:23:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1291062</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Around 20 to 25 people constructing the plaza are feared to be stuck under debris]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least one person died and four others were left injured when a two-storey under construction plaza collapsed on the Bosan road in Multan on Tuesday.

The injured were shifted to the Nishtar Hospital Multan where emergency was declared by the district government.

According to sources, Imran (20), a resident of Lutfabad died and four others identified as Naseer (20), Muzammil (22), Mueen (22) and Allah Ditta (45), were injured in the incident.

Officials told The Express Tribune that a rescue operation was under way and more casualties were feared.

Around 20-25 people who were constructing the plaza were feared to be stuck under the debris.

Initially passers-by started the rescue work, later heavy machinery was brought in to clear the debris and rescue the trapped workers.

Officials faced difficulty in the rescue operation as Bosan Road is one of the main arteries of the city and attempts were being made to divert the traffic on alternative routes.

Eyewitnesses told The Express Tribune that the two-storey building collapsed when labourers were working over the installation of a partition in the plaza. This might be a reason behind the structure caving in, he added.

More than 400 police officials and traffic wardens are assisting the rescue officials to conclude the operation at the earliest.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2017.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1291062-copy-1484081778/1291062-copy-1484081778.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>At least two dead as under-construction building collapses in Multan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1290342/least-six-injured-construction-plaza-collapses-multan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1290342/least-six-injured-construction-plaza-collapses-multan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 17 12:12:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Owais Qarni]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1290342</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least 30 people trapped under the rubble; rescue operation underway]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[At least two people were killed, while dozens others remained trapped under the debris after an under-construction building collapsed in Multan on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Bosan road, and a nearby restaurant, hotel and shops were also damaged.

Rescue 1122 rushed to the scene of the incident with six ambulances shifting those injured to Nishter Hospital.

Rs330m Jhelum bridge collapses ahead of inauguration

According to Express News, heavy machinery reached the site, and was taking part in the rescue operation. Meanwhile, personnel of Pakistan Army also reached the site to help with the relief efforts.

Routine vehicular traffic was blocked on Bosan road to make way for ambulances.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1290342-multanaccident-1484051573/1290342-multanaccident-1484051573.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
