On Friday afternoon in Lyari’s Baghdadi neighbourhood in Karachi, a five-storey residential building collapsed and killed at least seven individuals before eight were rescued from under the debris, according to authorities. Rescue teams remain on site in hopes of extracting as many as 25 additional individuals trapped beneath it all.
Rescue 1122’s Central Control reported that the incident began around 10:53 am local time and deployed disaster response vehicles and over 100 personnel to respond at the site, according to Rising Nepal Daily and Brecorder respectively (sg.news.yahoo.com/breakingnepaldaily / risingnepaldaily/brecorder ).
Police on site described the building as worn-out and unsafe after years of being classified by Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) for violations. Risingnepaldaily.com + 4, Geo TV +4 also marked it unsafe.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab stated the 30-year-old structure had received multiple notices urging residents to vacate; yet many remained. He advised those living in similarly dangerous buildings to heed warnings in order to avert tragedy (arynews.tv +4 geo.tv +4, thenews com pk etc).
Search and Rescue Operations Rescue operations began immediately; heavy machinery including cranes and snorkels was used to clear away debris while teams used heartbeat-detecting devices to find survivors layer by layer (arynews.tv +2 [Geo] +2 @TheNewsCom.Pk |ThenewsComPak).
At nightfall, preparations included setting up floodlights that will remain lit around the clock on both geo.tv and thenews.com.pk (plus one).
Initial civilian efforts to assist were organized later by police and Rangers who cordoned off the area and managed crowds that threatened rescue efforts (Geo.TV +1). (Trend Micro). (News.com.pk +3).
Muharram restrictions further complicated our response with narrow streets, blocked roads and intermittent mobile connectivity slowing progress; dawn.com/geo.tv +3 along with The News’ Thenews.com.pk +3 provides more details.
Casualties Confirmed
Civil Hospital Karachi’s Trauma Institute identified some victims, with three men and two women among the dead; four men, two women, a teenage girl, and five minor injuries reported as wounded (risingnepaldaily.com/+1 and dawn.com/+1 for injuries suffered by each).
Naming of those involved includes Fatima Babu and Hoor Bai, age 55 each; Prantic Arsi (21), 32-year-old Prem (32), and 35-year-old Waseem Babu (55). For more details about these incidents please see risingnepaldaily.com + 1 or dawn.com+ 1.
Structural Warnings and Response
The Sindh Building Control Authority has suspended their Director, Deputy Director and inspection officials following reports that over 400 buildings in Karachi’s south district have been officially classified as dangerous; geo.tv +1 and thenews.com.pk report this development as well.
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani announced that a high-level committee would submit its report within three days, reviewing regulatory lapses and evacuation processes (arynews.tv +4 geo.tv +4 thenews.com.pk +4).
City officials emphasized nonviolent approaches to evacuations, striving to balance coercion with care. Humanitarian considerations also played a part.
Context and Wider Implications Karachi’s urban sprawl–characterized by old buildings, illegal extensions, and lax enforcement–has frequently resulted in similar tragedies. Just days earlier, part of a building collapsed in Kharadar but without casualties (brecorder.com +2 risingnepaldaily.com +2 dawn.com).
President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif have extended their condolences, while also encouraging Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Governor Kamran Tessori to implement detailed plans to identify and protect residents living in at-risk structures, as reported on by dawn.com + 2 and risingnepaldaily.com+ 2. For more details visit either of the links: [Arynews.tv | +2 | dawn.com | risingnepaldaily] and (ARYNEWS TV +2). For news coverage see http://arynews.tv | +2| dawn.com +2, while [Ary News TV +2], Primari Tessori ordered intensive aid for injured residents while President Zardari expressed condolences as President Zardari offered his condolences by both President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif extended their own..tar =Arynews.tv +2]. When President Zardari expressed sympathy they urged Sindh Govensionerrdaria.tar]. They asked Sindh Govenment to implement detailed plans identifying and protect residents in at risk structures to identify residents, risingnepaldailycom ==> crestere Nepal Daily=1, Rising Nepal Daily =+1″.
As the dust clears, officials have stressed the need for after-action reports to lead to stricter building codes, proactive evacuations, and preventative infrastructure policies – otherwise Karachi’s most vulnerable communities remain at risk.
Lyari collapse was a tragic result of preventive neglect and regulatory oversight; thus it underscores the imperative of taking immediate steps to insure Karachi’s ageing buildings and protect lives.