14 dead, 17 injured as five-storey residential building collapses in Karachi
49
At least 14 people were killed and several others injured when a five-storey residential building in Karachi's Gulbahar area — formerly known as Golimar — collapsed on Thursday.
According to Police Surgeon Dr Qarar Abbasi, the bodies of 14 victims have been brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, while at least 17 injured have been brought to the same facility.
Rescue workers are still engaged in efforts to remove the debris and rescue people trapped under the rubble.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the building collapse and directed Commissioner Karachi to ensure that rescue and relief operations are executed smoothly in the area.
Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, while taking notice of the incident, ordered that the injured be provided the best possible medical care.
Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar had also directed Central Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arif Aslam Rao to head the rescue operation in the area, a police press release said.
A contingent of police and Rangers was dispatched to the area to help with the rescue operation as a number of area residents gathered in the street where the structure came down.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail took notice of the building collapse and asked Commissioner Karachi and Sindh Building Control Authority to compile detailed reports on the incident.
The chief minister also asked for a detailed report on the building's construction to be compiled after relief operations are concluded.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (49) Closed
Mar 05, 2020 01:07pm
Pakistan has poor quality of infrastructure.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 01:32pm
The continuing corrupt development authorities that earned through people blood and flesh. Instead of correcting the procedures, now they will go after the genuine cases and make the life miserable for people. That’s all these corrupt officials can do.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 01:32pm
There are many buildings in Karachi built using shortcuts and bribes. KBCA is the main culprit, managed over the years for self by MQM and PPP
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 01:42pm
Poor people paid their price by life just because of corrupt government officials.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 02:01pm
the building inspectors. project manager building engineer should all be arrested pending filing of charges manslaughter and their properties confiscated and auctioned off. many more culprits should be charged as well. this is unacceptable.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 03:11pm
Hey guys, why aren't you reporting what's happening in Kech? Why hide your losses? And why hide the way your brave soldiers are killing and harassing villagers in revenge?
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 03:35pm
CM will issue order for enquirery, No results , and the victim will get justice at the judgement day.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:07pm
It was just a 3 years old building and should not have collapsed if there was no cheating or corruption involved in its construction. Authorities must have approved the building designs. If not, violators of rules must be booked for action. It is also being told in media that, a 5th story was being added on the 4 storied building.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:19pm
Unauthorized construction Mafia is so strong that the SBCA and police cannot do anything.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:40pm
waiting for the press conference of saeed gani and co against SBCA officials.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:41pm
Great... Governor and CM has taken notice..This is what they can do ...and expected of them...Just lip service and end of story.. Pathetic...
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:44pm
India and Pak are similar in so many ways.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:46pm
@Shehbaz, Pakistan sadly has poor quality of everything, including human beings. 80% of frauds and crooks.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:48pm
@amir, why only Karachi? Also see Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Mardan and dozens of other cities in KPK and Punjab. I don't know more about the condition in other cities of Sindh and Baluchistan.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:56pm
Result if sub standard building contractors who take shortcuts; the builders of this particular structure should face charges.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 04:59pm
This is an old area of Karachi, there are many buildings in and around this area which are in dilapidated conditions, a survey needs to be conducted of all old areas of the city and buildings need to be either renovated if possible or demolished totally if renovation is not possible. This is the only way to avoid such mishaps.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 05:11pm
Poor quality materials are allowed to be made in Pakistan, with no quality inspectors.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 05:28pm
Would someone take notice of residential buildings about to collapse
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 06:19pm
Third class construction reflects the credibility of the industry
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 06:29pm
Years of PPP and MQM rule. What else can we expect on construction regulations
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 06:40pm
So many people directing and asking for reports! How many poor souls are actually involved in the rescue? The photo shows no rescue equipment, not even helmets for the rescuers.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 06:40pm
This keeps happening, yet no tangible action is taken. Do we hold human lives so cheap?
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 06:54pm
Corruption allows people to construct sub-standard buildings, especially in Karachi.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 07:25pm
I am 'happy' that all the higher ups out there taking 'notice' of the situation, after the fact.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 07:28pm
There is common trend to build buildings illegally in neighborhoods of the city with the connivance of the officials without observing rules and regulations and that practice's result is accidents,loss of property and life.
So,this wont stop...this is our culture ...Our own self destructive attitude will destroy us...This society is not known to be the"society of laws" . This society runs on "JUGGAAR". There is no sense of practicing the law from top to bottom=common citizen.And result is accidents it might be train accidents, gas leakages, collapse of buildings,encroachments of streets and building buildings in middle of the streets in neighborhoods of the city and personnels of administration sleep...
Who will Bell the Cat of Lawlessness in the City?
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 07:28pm
Made in China materials used
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 07:28pm
Another Hallmark of PPP and MQM
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 07:40pm
All the officials are taking "Notice" and directing the same people to do something.
Hey guys you go where the accident has happened and take action. You lazy office bearers.
This is time for you to do something for the people.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 08:11pm
low quality building material and not following building code is the reason to collapse. Punish the responsible persons, I doubt not.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 09:01pm
Sub standard material and poor design could be a major caused of the collapse
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 09:22pm
What difference does it make if CM take notice?
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 10:37pm
@Shafiq, Where are the city building inspectors? I am sure they took bribe money and cleared the building certified. These people also need to be punished.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 10:39pm
The SBCA ordinance 2002-chapter 7 for earmarking dangerous building states;
7-1.1. Any Building or structure whose strength, stability, serviceability, robustness &/or durability has been impaired due to any reason such as improper structural design & detailing, faulty &/or poor construction, decay, dilapidation, obsolescence, natural disasters or leading to abandonment .......where it cannot be restored to its original status, shall classify as Dangerous Building Category-1, .....to be demolished.
7-1.2. Any building or structure or part thereof whose strength, stability, robustness, serviceability &/or durability has been impaired .....where it could by way of strengthening, re-strengthening, upraised and restoration be brought partially or wholly near to its original status, shall be classified as Dangerous Building Category-2,....
If this building wasn’t categorized as such then those responsible be charged with manslaughter due to criminal negligence causing this tragic incidence.
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 10:41pm
@Shehbaz, "Poor people paid their price by life just because of corrupt government officials." It is very unfortunate that so many poor people lost their lives for no fault of their own. But as you have done, why has it become the norm to blame the government for all ills in our society and forget about the real culprits? Did a government official build this ill-fated building or was it an architect/contractor?
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 11:32pm
Human life is becoming absolutely worthless
Recommend
0
Mar 05, 2020 11:33pm
That's why I always say, say NO to Flats, Towers and Apartment, our whole country is on fault line and that's the fact.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 12:05am
Corrupt authorities who authorise the construction of buildings by bypassing regulations and standards.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 12:10am
Now everyone is taking notice after innocent lives have been lost. Do they know the level of corruption and who controls it?
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 12:17am
Did it start the blame game yet. Building inspector (if that exists ) is responsible for the approval of occupancy period.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 01:51am
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is under the provincial government of Sindh of PPP for decades.
The people have less knowledge.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 01:51am
Now you will see lots of other buildings collapsing, illegal structures don't last long. People will now realize what it means to live on illegally constructed structures.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 01:59am
Not one word from Bilawal and Asif Zardari over loss of life
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 02:37am
Pakistan government needs new building regulations similar to Japan, Germany, UK, etc... Infrastructure needs checked and planning permission should be allowed after inspections and architecture diagrams, materials which should all be earthquake proof. This will create confidence and Pakistan will look good with international standard safety. It will build more confidence for people wanting to invest and for holiday.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 04:34am
Substandard construction, the SBCA issues completion certificate after grafts, the Sindh Building Control Authority is primarily responsible for all unauthorized buildings cleared after grafts. The Karachiiites are being targeted on streets, at home by dacoits, no civic facilities, no security, and now after this incident they feel no safe even at their homes, apartments. All eyes at CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, please direct Karachiiites in particular and rural Sindhis in general, how to cope with difficulties.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 04:34am
People themselves to get blame for this atrocities because they don’t want to change their bad habits and follow the law correctly if people change system will.dont expect any changes in the society if we continue to have same attitude of ignorance
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 06:17am
What does it mean: "CM take notice of incident"?
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 06:36am
The builders/contractors should be grilled.Government must compensate who lost their lives.(Texas)
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 08:45am
The people should know that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is under the provincial government of Sindh of corrupt PPP for decades.
This SBCA is the money earning department for the Zardaris, Bhuttos, Talpurs, Memons, Shahs, Durranis, Khuhros, etc.
Alas.
Recommend
0
Mar 06, 2020 02:17pm
@Shehbaz, Start to blame the awam and things shall get fixed.
Keep blaming the "authority" which is comprised or a "part" of the awam and you shall get the same result of last 70 years.
Recommend
0
