KARACHI: Three individuals were killed, and 17 others sustained injuries on Monday when a two-story building collapsed in Machar Colony on Mauripur Road in Karachi, triggered by a gas cylinder blast.
The explosion occurred within a gas cylinder shop housed in the building, leading to partial damage to an adjacent building and a nearby vehicle.
Authorities promptly initiated a rescue operation at the scene, with the administration of Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi confirming the reception of two deceased individuals and eight injured individuals.
To facilitate the rescue operation in the congested streets, law enforcement officers resorted to baton charging to disperse the obstructive crowd, as reported by the police.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Keamari Arif Rao Aslam, speaking to a private TV channel, detailed the ongoing collaborative efforts of police, rangers, and rescue teams at the site. He clarified that the collapse was a result of a gas cylinder shop situated in the building, which collapsed during a gas transfer operation from a vehicle loaded with cylinders.
The SSP confirmed three fatalities and 17 injuries, including two children and four women, in the incident. He highlighted that six of the injured suffered burn injuries due to an immediate fire outbreak following the blast, affecting three neighboring buildings, which were evacuated for inspection purposes.
Emphasizing the use of heavy machinery, SSP Keamari stated that debris removal was underway to clear the site.
This tragic event in Karachi follows a similar incident on October 11, where an under-construction building collapse in Shah Faisal Colony led to three fatalities and multiple injuries, prompting the suspension of four officers from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) by Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, citing negligence.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
