KARACHI: Thirteen people, among them seven children aged between four months and 10 years, were crushed to death when a landslide hit their makeshift homes set up in an open plot under a hill in Gulistan-i-Jauhar in the small hours of Tuesday.

According to officials and witnesses, the victims were deep in sleep and the tragic incident gradually turned deadly due to delayed respo­nse from rescue agencies. The area people desperately moved on their own to remove the tons of rubble with hands, shovels and hammers.

“It was around 1.40 or 1.45am when we heard people screaming for help,” said Mumtaz Haider, a resident of a nearby apartment. “There were some eight to 10 huts made of bamboos, bricks and other light material. At least three of them disappeared after the landslide.”

Seven children among 13 killed in the Karachi tragedy

The incident took place in a roadside open plot under a hill housing a number of bungalows and luxury homes amid hectic construction activity in the neighbourhood. There were speculations and deep suspicions that illegal construction or the much publicised “China-cutting” led to the deadly happening.

The bodies were retrieved after frantic efforts that continued till morning.

“The death toll comprises seven children, three women and as many men,” police surgeon Dr Jalil Qadir said, adding that most of them suffered injuries in the head and some of them died because of suffocation after having been trapped under rubble.

The bodies were handed over to the families after completion of formalities.

A 25-year-old man, his wife and their three little children were among the dead. Another couple and their two children, as well as four members of another family, also met the same fate.

Panic and helplessness were visible in the middle of the night. Television crews were the first to reach the place, followed by Rangers personnel who, with the help of area residents, tried to remove the rubble and rescue the people trapped inside for an hour, but mostly in vain.

With no tool or machinery available, they were helpless amid thick darkness with only lights of cameras of TV channels available for their aid.

A search and rescue team of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) reached the place one hour after the incident, carrying heavy machinery and gadgets. They completed the operation at about 7.30am. But by that time all 13 people were dead.

Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqi supervised the rescue operation. He was later joined by Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Faisal Subzwari.

There was no official word about the reason for the landslide, but the measures taken and directives issued after the ghastly episode fanned speculations that illegal construction activity was to blame.

“The Karachi commissioner has set up a committee under Deputy Commissioner East Asif Siddiqi to investigate the incident and sought a report by 4pm on Wednesday,” said a statement issued by the commissioner’s office.

“After the incident, the commissioner has banned construction activities in all hilly areas of the city. He has also approved building plans for hilly areas to ensure safety of life,” it added.

It later emerged that the plot where the incident took place was owned by a police officer who was also allegedly involved in “China-cutting”, the term used for illegal plotting, mostly on amenity land or space meant for other public services.

The police authorities said investigations were open and an SSP was part of the inquiry committee set up by the commissioner.

Karachi police chief Mushtaq Ali Mahar said the KMC and other authorities would look into the record to ascertain the legality and ownership of the plot. “We will also investigate the tragedy after gathering facts.”

Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015

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