At least 12 people were feared dead when an arson-affected multi-storey building in the city collapsed on Wednesday. At the time of collapse, five masons and seven scavengers were busy in its rehabilitation activities. Rescue teams of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) were busy to recover missing persons by removing wreckage of the century old building, but no causality was reported till our going to press.
The technical wing of Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) had already declared 16 arson-affected buildings dangerous, and the collapsed one was also included in the list. According to details, a century-old commercial building 'Mashallah Market' went down to ground when at least 12 people were busy in rehabilitation of the market, which was affected in arson during December 28 mayhem. The collapsed building was situated in the centre of arson-affected wholesale market, The collapse occurred at around 6 pm.
Rescue teams were rushed to the spot to remove the wreckage of the building and for early recovery of missing persons. The chief rescue officer said that working people were still trapped under the debris of the building. Due to congested streets it would be premature to set a timeline for completion ongoing operation, he added.
Talking to Business Recorder, Muhammad Tahir Ansari, Muaawin Chairman, Al-Khair Trust, said that volunteers of the trust were engaged in reconstruction of the building to restore business activities in the market. On the request of City Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal, the volunteers were called back, but still many workers of other organisation were working during the collapse.
"The trust would call back 150 volunteers, who are busy in repair and maintenance work of the burnt buildings during December 28 mayhem due to fear of collapse, the chairman said, adding that the volunteers would now work for reconstruction of buildings, which would be demolished by KBCA for security purposes." Urban Search and Rescue team visited the site with sniffer dogs and after thorough search cleared the site.
Muhammad Rafique Jadoon, President of Anjuman Tajiran Marriott Road and City Alliance of Market Association told Business Recorder that the association has allowed the city government to demolish all dangerous buildings of wholesale markets to ensure safety of life and property to the traders.