Death Toll Rises to 17 in Karachi’s Leary Building Collapse, Rescue Operations Continue

Karachi: The death toll from the five-story residential building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari Baghdadi area has risen to 17, with three more bodies recovered from the debris. Additionally, eight injured individuals, including a 3-month-old girl, have been rescued. Reports suggest that more than 20 people may still be trapped under the rubble, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and demanded an immediate report from the relevant authorities. The collapsed building, considered structurally unsafe, had been identified as deteriorating by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).
Rescue operations were significantly hindered by the narrow streets and heavy debris. Teams from rescue services, police, and Rangers are working with modern technology such as live locators and voice detectors to locate trapped individuals.
Local residents have expressed sorrow as more bodies continue to be recovered, with several families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The nearby building, also affected by the collapse, has been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
In a media briefing, SSP City Arif Aziz mentioned the difficulties caused by the crowd, blocking ambulances’ access to the site. He confirmed that authorities would work alongside the district administration to evacuate all risky buildings.
Meanwhile, Sindh’s Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Khial Das Kohistani, held the provincial government accountable for the tragedy, stressing the need for urgent action to address dangerous buildings and provide alternative accommodations to affected families.
The Karachi Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, visited the site and confirmed that rescue efforts were progressing, despite challenges. He highlighted that the affected building had been repeatedly warned to vacate, but residents refused to comply.
The Sindh government has now formed a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident and hold responsible officials accountable. Meanwhile, political leaders from various parties, including PTI’s Sajjad Somro and PPP’s Zulfiqar Ali Junior, have called for accountability and justice for the victims.
Nation’s Leadership Expresses Condolences
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have all expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended their condolences to the victims’ families. They have urged swift and transparent investigations into the cause of the collapse and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Karachi Commissioner arrived at the site 13 hours after the collapse, emphasizing that the priority was rescue, not assigning blame. He also stated that notices had been issued to residents of other dangerous buildings in the area.