KARACHI: At least one person died and eight others injured after a multi-storey residential building allegedly built on an encroached land known as 'china cutting' collapsed in Allah Wala Town near Korangi crossing on Thursday, police and eyewitnesses said.
A Spokesman of Karachi police told that a dead body of a teenage boy identified as Waqas son of Hanif was recovered from the debris, whereas a family of traffic head constable M Zulfiqar including his Wife Ayesha and two children - Sana and Arsalan,9, besides some other ill-fated people are feared to have been trapped under the rubble of collapsed building.
Following the incident, teams of fire bridge, rangers, besides Pak Army engineering corps reached at the site and initiated rescue operations. Rescue operations were underway as seven injured, including two children, were pulled out from beneath the rubble and were moved to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment. The victims have been identified as Ayoub,45, Nazish daughter of Ayub, 17, kiran daughter of Ayub, 15, Nisha,32, wife of fahim, Rani,40, wife of Iqbal, Reema,14 daughter of Iqbal.
This is the third such incident to have taken place in the metropolis this year, raising a big question mark over the performance of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant departments.
SCBA officials said the building was constructed illegally and without any formal approval on an encroached land. The area residents said the structure was built four years back, and authorities had reportedly asked the residents to leave the building; however some families were still living there at the time of incident. The basement of the building was filled with water after the recent monsoon rain which could be one of the possible reasons of the collapse.
"I request the Supreme Court Chief Justice to take strict and immediate notice of today's building collapse in Korangi. This is the 5th such incidence this year all because of corrupt Sindh government and their officers of SBCA who allow China Cutting and illegal building," a citizen Samir Mir Shaikh posted on twitter.
In June, a five-storey building collapsed in Lyari resulting in the deaths of at least 22 people, In March, a building collapsed in the Gulbahar area, killing 27 people and injuring at least 17 others.
Administrator Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani said an enquiry would be held to ascertain the reason behind building collapse. Three to five storey buildings have been established in many residential areas of Karachi where only ground plus one is permissible. Action will be taken against responsible for allowing such constructions as such buildings are dangerous for humans' lives.
The Administrator said this while reviewing rescue works at the site. Deputy Commissioner Korangi Shaheryar, Senior Director Coordination KMC Masood Alam and officers of fire brigade and rescue services were also present on the occasion.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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