Karachi: At least seven people died after a six-storey residential building collapsed in Lyari’s Baghdadi area on Friday. Rescue officials confirmed that 20 to 25 individuals remain trapped under the rubble as operations continue.
Emergency teams responded swiftly. Five survivors, including three women, were rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment. Both Chhipa and Edhi Foundation teams remain active on site.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) stated that the collapsed structure had been declared unsafe well before the incident. SBCA officials claimed that several notices had been issued to residents, warning them to evacuate. However, local residents denied receiving any formal notifications, raising concerns about procedural gaps.
In response, a high-level inquiry committee has been established by the Sindh Local Government Department. The committee has been instructed to identify responsible officers within 72 hours. The Sindh Local Government Minister has also ordered the immediate suspension of relevant SBCA staff.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed serious concern. He directed authorities to mobilize all available resources for rescue and ensure complete medical care for the injured. He emphasized that any proven negligence will face strict accountability.
The Karachi building collapse highlights deep-rooted issues in Karachi’s urban infrastructure. According to the SBCA, 578 buildings across the city are classified as structurally unsafe, with the highest concentration in District South.
This is not the first such warning. Earlier this week, a partial collapse occurred in Karachi’s Kharadar area. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. However, that incident exposed serious vulnerabilities in residential structures warnings that were seemingly ignored.
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The Karachi building collapse now serves as a tragic wake-up call. As recovery efforts continue, questions grow louder over enforcement failures, administrative neglect, and the urgency of addressing Karachi’s decaying building infrastructure.
