KARACHI: At least 16 people, including women and children, were killed, and 14 were injured after a gas explosion caused part of a residential building to collapse in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar area, according to officials.
The incident occurred at a residence in the Gul Rana Colony area of Soldier Bazaar. The injured and the deceased were shifted to Civil Hospital.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jamshed Asher said the incident occurred at around 4:15am during Sehri, and that the gas explosion took place on the building’s first floor.
In an update, Sindh Rescue 1122 said the death toll in the incident had reached 16, while 14 were injured. According to the director of Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre, Dr Mohammad Sabir Memon, 13 of the bodies had been brought to his hospital.
Later in the afternoon, Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh told Dawn that the search and rescue operation had been completed.
Speaking to the media, COO Shaikh had confirmed that a gas explosion was the cause of the structure’s partial collapse.
He noted that the ground plus two-floor structure had small rooms, and the limited space made the rescue operation challenging.
“This is not a legal building, and the structure is made of individual rooms,” said the senior rescue official, adding that the collapse also damaged surrounding structures.
An urban search and rescue team and a disaster response vehicle of Rescue 1122 had been engaged in the search operation.
According to a list of casualties provided by Rescue 1122, the deceased comprise eight minors, four women and four men — aged between two and 60 years. The injured included seven minors.
A District East police spokesperson said a large contingent of law enforcers, along with rescue teams, had reached the scene soon after the incident was reported.
“Police cordoned off the area and tightened security, while rescue agencies initiated a search and rescue operation,” said the police spokesperson.
CM takes notice; temporary rehabilitation ordered
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of lives, said a statement released by the CM House.
The statement added that Murad directed the relevant authorities to “immediately rescue people trapped under the debris” and provide the victims with the “best possible” medical assistance.
