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The death toll from the collapse of a residential building in Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood reached 21 on Saturday, as rescue teams continued their search for survivors.
The multi-story apartment block crumbled around 10:00 AM on Friday, with residents reporting cracking sounds moments before.
Authorities claim the building was declared unsafe over three years ago, and eviction notices were sent to occupants in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Senior district government official Javed Nabi Khoso stated, “We don’t want to impose our orders by force… They didn’t take the notices seriously.”
However, some landlords and residents, including Imran Khaskheli, an owner who witnessed cracks and warned neighbours before the collapse, deny ever receiving these notices.
Khaskheli noted that about 40 families lived there, with many ignoring his warning.
Credit: The Mountaineer
Survivors Trapped, Families Grieve Amid Rescue Operation
As temperatures climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, families feared that at least eight people remained trapped.
The victims include many women, likely due to being home during the day.
Dev Raj, 54, tragically shared that his daughter, married only six months ago, was “under the burden of debris.”
Jumho Maheshwari, 70, prayed for his entire family, all trapped on the first floor when he left for work.
Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, expressed profound grief over her brother’s family being trapped. Shankar Kamho, 30, recounted how his wife and daughter narrowly escaped after he urged her to leave when she reported the building cracking, just 20 minutes before it fell.
More than 50 buildings in the district have been declared unsafe, with six evacuated since the incident. The rescue operation is ongoing as families desperately await news of their loved ones.
