Rescue Operation Continues After Building Collapse in Lyari, Karachi
A six-storey residential building collapsed in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, Karachi. The rescue work is now in its second day.
So far, nine people have sadly died—eight at the scene and one later at the hospital. Nineteen people have been rescued from the debris, including five women who were injured. Some injured people are still getting treatment at the hospital.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that around 20 more people may still be trapped, and the rescue teams are doing their best to find and save them. The operation is still ongoing.
Commissioner Blames Unsafe Buildings
Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi visited the site after 13 hours and said the people living in weak and dangerous buildings are partly to blame.
He mentioned that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had already warned about the building’s poor condition. However, some residents said they never got any warning or notice to leave.
The commissioner said the government doesn’t want to force people out of their homes, but residents must think about their safety and that of their families.
SBCA’s Statement
The SBCA said that the building was marked as dangerous a long time ago. They said they had sent several notices asking people to move out.
According to them, 578 buildings in Karachi are unsafe, most of them in District South.
Damage to Nearby Building
Rescue workers also said that the building next to the one that collapsed has been damaged too and might not be safe anymore.
Governor’s Concern and Action
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori showed concern and said all possible help should be given to the injured and the rescue teams. He warned that no negligence will be tolerated.
A special committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the collapse. They have three days to find out which officers were responsible. The Sindh Local Government Minister has also suspended some SBCA officials.
Related Incident
Just four days ago, another six-storey building in Kharadar had a partial collapse. Luckily, no one died in that incident.
The rooftop water tank fell and damaged the staircases and hallway, trapping people on the higher floors. Rescue teams used cranes and special equipment to safely bring them down. The building’s structure was badly affected by the falling tank.
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