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7 Dead in Karachi Building Collapse, Rescue Ops Underway
At least 7 dead, 8 injured in Lyari building collapse. Rescue ops underway. Mayor, CM & PM urge urgent action on 400+ dangerous buildings in Karachi.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-04
7 Dead in Karachi Building Collapse, Rescue Ops Underway

A five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari area on Friday morning, leaving at least seven people dead and eight others injured, according to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

The tragic incident took place on Fida Hussain Shaikha Road in Lyari’s Baghdadi neighborhood. Speaking to the media at the site, Mayor Wahab confirmed the casualties and said, “We have succeeded in saving eight people, but unfortunately, seven lives have been lost.”

The deceased included three men and two women, as per hospital records, while the injured consisted of four men, two women, and a teenage girl. Civil Hospital Karachi and SMBB Trauma Centre provided immediate medical treatment. Five of the wounded sustained minor injuries, according to SMBBIT Executive Director Dr. Muhammad Sabir Memon.

The building was reportedly home to nearly 100 residents. Saad Edhi of Edhi Foundation described it as a "worn-out structure," while police official Arif Aziz confirmed the building had been previously marked unsafe.

This incident follows closely after a similar structural collapse in the city’s Kharadar area, which had no reported casualties. Authorities have long warned of such disasters. In December, the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee instructed evacuation of more than 570 buildings declared dangerous in Karachi, including over 430 in the Old City.

Despite multiple notices, residents had not evacuated. Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, who also visited the site, expressed sorrow and emphasized the struggle between displacement and survival. "Notices were issued, but unfortunately, residents stayed. Now lives are lost,” he said.

Rescue operations led by Sindh Rescue 1122, Rangers, and local police began immediately after the building's collapse. Over 100 personnel, five disaster response vehicles, two snorkels, cranes, lifters, and ambulances were dispatched. The operation faced challenges due to crowding, road blockages, and mobile service disruption amid heightened security during Muharram.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered an immediate inquiry and demanded a detailed report from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). He called for swift rescue and relief efforts and warned that negligence in protecting lives will not be tolerated.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both expressed grief and urged the Sindh government to complete rescue work and prevent similar incidents through comprehensive policy action. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari assured full support for affected families and lauded ongoing rescue efforts.

Governor Kamran Tessori stressed that all possible resources must be used to rescue survivors, adding that “negligence will not be tolerated.” Other national leaders, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, also conveyed their condolences.

As Karachi continues to grapple with crumbling infrastructure and overpopulation, this tragedy underscores the urgent need for firm governance, infrastructure reform, and public cooperation to avert future disasters.

 
Tagged:

BuildingSafety

KarachiCollapse

LyariTragedy

UrbanDisaster
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