Karachi: Residential building collapse claims multiple lives in Lyari

A five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Baghdadi area of Lyari early Friday morning, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured. Rescue efforts are still underway amid fears that more people may be trapped under the debris.

According to rescue officials, six people were pulled out injured and four bodies were recovered from the rubble. Delays in the arrival of heavy machinery hampered early rescue operations, reportedly due to road closures in the area.

Officials confirmed that six families were residing in the collapsed structure. Adjacent two- and seven-storey buildings were  evacuated as a precautionary measure. Electricity and gas supplies to the affected site were disconnected to prevent further hazards.

Check: Six injured as roof collapses in six-storey building in Karachi’s Kharadar

Locals said they began rescue efforts themselves immediately after the collapse, as official teams and equipment arrived late. The process of clearing debris with heavy machinery is currently ongoing.

Doctors at the Civil Hospital Trauma Center reported that one of the seriously injured victims, a 40-year-old woman, sustained multiple fractures and remains under critical care.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) revealed that the collapsed building had previously been declared unsafe. However, local residents claimed that no formal notice had been served to tenants prior to the incident.

According to SBCA, there are currently 578 derelict buildings in Karachi, with the highest concentration located in the South District.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the concerned authorities to submit an immediate report on the incident.

The chief minister ordered rescue teams to intensify efforts to safely evacuate those still trapped under the rubble and ensure that the injured receive prompt medical assistance.

He also instructed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to provide a detailed list of all structurally weak and dilapidated buildings across the city.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also expressed concern over the incident and directed officials to ensure prompt medical assistance to the injured.

A high-level investigation committee has been constituted by to probe the collapse. The committee has been tasked with identifying any negligence on the part of government officers within three days.

The local government Minister has ordered the suspension of SBCA officials found responsible for failing to act on time.