KARACHI:

Tragedy struck Karachi’s Machhar Colony on Monday as a residential building collapsed, resulting in the death of three individuals, including a minor girl. Additionally, 17 others sustained injuries due to a gas cylinder explosion in a shop located on the ground floor.

The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Ameen and Ulfat, while the identity of the third victim is yet to be determined.

The injured individuals have been identified as Syed Noor, Alam, Hameed, Noor Hussain, Farooq Fazal Haq, Abdul Ameen, and three-year-old Shahzadi. The names of three injured children and a man have not been disclosed yet.

According to the authorities, the explosion occurred near Bait Ul Mukarram Masjid, Jaafar Chowk, in Machhar Colony. The blast took place when gas cylinders were being transferred from a pick-up van into the shop.

SSP Arif Aslam Rao addressed the media, stating that an initial explosion in one gas cylinder triggered a chain reaction, leading to the explosion of other cylinders stored in the shop.

He further mentioned that around seven to eight individuals were injured by debris, while the remaining sustained injuries directly from the explosion.

The police official informed that the rescue operation was still ongoing, and it remained uncertain how many people were still trapped under the rubble.

SSP Rao appealed to the residents in the vicinity of the building to keep away from the explosion site and avoid obstructing rescue efforts.

Local residents informed the media that the building’s owner, Noor-ul-Islam Haqqani, was a former councillor. The building was occupied by his two daughters and their families, along with two other families.