A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday involving a Karachi Lyari roof collapse near Khadda Market, where the roof of a six-storey residential building gave way, claiming two lives and injuring three others. The structure, known as Ghani Mansion, is located close to Bilal Masjid and Peshawari Hotel.
Rescue 1122 and police teams responded swiftly, cordoning off the area and initiating relief operations
Victims and Rescue Efforts
DIG South Syed Asad Raza confirmed that two women died in the Karachi Lyari roof collapse, while three others — reportedly their daughters — sustained injuries. All victims were residents of the same building.
Injured Individuals:
- Sakina, age 40
- Hajra, age 18
- Javeria, age 22
One of the injured women later passed away at Civil Hospital Karachi, raising the death toll to two. The deceased include 45-year-old Hurmat Rafiq, while the second woman has not yet been identified.
Structural Collapse: What Happened?
Authorities stated that the sixth floor of Ghani Mansion collapsed onto the fifth, which subsequently fell onto the fourth. The building lies under the jurisdiction of Baghdadi Police Station. Preliminary assessments point to the building’s deteriorating condition, though a formal investigation is still underway.
Recurring Pattern: Second Collapse in Lyari This Month
This is the second major Karachi Lyari roof collapse reported in July. On July 4, a five-storey building in the Baghdadi area also collapsed, resulting in:
- 27 deaths
- 10 injuries, including 11 women, 16 men, and a 1.5-year-old girl
That incident prompted large-scale inspections of residential structures and renewed pressure on local authorities to enforce safety standards.
Unsafe Buildings in Karachi: A Growing Crisis
In the wake of the earlier collapse, the Sindh government launched a citywide audit of unsafe buildings. The findings revealed:
- 588 structures in poor condition
- 59 deemed extremely dangerous
- 29 buildings evacuated
District-level committees, including experts from ABAD, PEC, and the Council of Architects and Town Planners, were tasked with monitoring.
Later updates pushed the list of hazardous buildings to over 70 in Karachi alone.
Accountability and Legal Action
After the July 4 incident, nine senior officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the building’s owners were arrested. An investigation is now underway to determine if the Karachi Lyari roof collapse at Ghani Mansion resulted from similar negligence or building code violations.
Statements from Authorities
- SSP Arif Aziz confirmed the location falls within Baghdadi Police jurisdiction.
- DIG South Syed Asad Raza verified casualty figures and ongoing investigations.
- Edhi Foundation confirmed the identity of one deceased, Hurmat Rafiq.
Rescue operations continue as teams work to ensure no individuals remain trapped.
Conclusion: Infrastructure Safety Concerns Deepen
This latest Karachi Lyari roof collapse highlights growing risks in densely populated urban areas with aging infrastructure. Residents and civil society groups are urging authorities to expedite structural audits and enforce stringent building safety regulations across the city
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