At least one person was killed and two others injured after a portion of a two-storey building collapsed near New Nazimabad Flyover on Manghopir Road in Karachi on Thursday. Rescue teams launched an operation to search for anyone who might still be trapped beneath the debris.
Roof Collapses During Work
According to Rescue 1122, the incident occurred near Shabbir Medical when the roof of a small confectionery shop situated at a street corner collapsed during ongoing construction work.
The shop was located on the ground floor of a two-storey building near New Nazimabad Flyover.
Rescue officials said three people were pulled out from beneath the debris and shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Abdul Bari, son of Abdul Aziz. Two other people sustained injuries in the incident.
Rescue officials expressed concern that additional people could be trapped beneath the rubble. Search and rescue operations were continuing to locate any remaining victims and clear the debris.
CM Orders Rescue Efforts
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the building collapse and directed the relevant authorities to accelerate rescue operations.
He instructed officials to ensure that the debris was removed promptly and that the injured received the best possible medical treatment.
The chief minister also sought a detailed report from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Questioning the possible causes, Murad Ali Shah asked whether negligence had contributed to the collapse and directed the authorities to provide complete details.
Safety Concerns After Disasters
The Karachi incident has renewed concerns about building safety and construction standards, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
On October 15, at least 30 children and a female teacher were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar. More than 50 others were injured, according to hospital authorities.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed said the school roof had been poorly constructed and that the building was situated in narrow streets, making rescue operations difficult.
At Least 34 Children, Female Teacher Killed in Peshawar School Roof Collapse
He said around 110 children were enrolled at the school, while 30 students had been present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed.
The police officer also highlighted several structural deficiencies in the building. He said the roof slab had been constructed using choka, a material made from thin, flat clay tiles or specially shaped bricks.
According to him, the building was already in a dangerous condition and posed a risk of further damage.
Previous Karachi Collapse
Karachi has also witnessed other deadly structural accidents in recent weeks.
On October 1, a section of an under-construction bridge linked to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project collapsed near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area.
The incident resulted in the death of a security guard.
Earlier, a building collapse in Karachi following a gas cylinder explosion claimed 16 lives, highlighting the dangers associated with structural weaknesses and building-related accidents.
The latest incident is likely to intensify calls for stricter monitoring of construction activities and enforcement of building safety regulations in the city.
