Daily Times

KARACHI: On the directives of, Chief Minister Sindh, the Building Control Authority has formed an inquiry committee to probe the incident of a collapsed three-storey residential building built on plot 10/315-9 in Liaqatabad.

In the recent incident in which a two story residential building collapsed in the remit of Liaqatabad police station which took five lives including two children and one women while 13 other sustained injuries, many people of Liaqatabad have blamed corrupt officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority and builders who in their greed to make more money are violating the rules laid down by law.

According to eyewitnesses the building caved in completely at around 2:30 am on Tuesday morning. The people living nearby were the first ones to reach and help the residents of the collapsed building soon after the incident. However the rescue teams reaching on the scene also provided help to the affected people.

People who were participating in the rescue operation said that a poor and unfortunate family was sleeping when the building suddenly collapsed at midnight and almost over 18 people including children and women were under the rubble.

“Five bodies have been recovered from the rubble,” informed Deputy Commissioner central Fareed Uddin. Another local official said a woman and a 13-year-old boy were among the dead.

Ali Ahmad a resident of the area told Daily Times that in 2009 one building near Firdous Shopping Center collapsed and in that incident 7 people including women and children lost their lives after that in 2013 again a five story building collapsed and caused loss of precious lives, now this incident again has showed how the corrupt officials of SBCA by giving approvals to builders are bypassing laws and making the area into a jungle of concrete.

An another resident Jawed who was taking part in rescue activities informed that in Liaqatabad near Jhanda Chok one builder is rapidly constricting illegal residential buildings on plot number 2/530 and 2/435 which can cause other incidents in coming days.

Like wise on plot numbers 3/1016 and 3/394 illegal buildings are being constructed by passing and violating the building laws.

In this residential area only one plus two, floors can be allowed but officials of SBCA in convenience with builders are constricting four to five story buildings on 100 and 120 square fit plots, Arshad Ansari a resident of the area informed.

On the other hand Liaqatabad police has launched an investigation against the builder and the officials of SBCA who were allowed the constructions after the high-ups of Sindh Government have taken notice of the incident and directed police for comprehensive enquiry , how ever all the illegal constructions are done will full convenience of the police Dist administration and the SBCA .

The illegally built building structure was 49 years old and four pillars of the building were in fragile condition, according to initial report of SBCA.

According to eyewitnesses’ accounts, the building was in dilapidated state and bricks could be seen falling off and on that has led to the tragic incident.

The rescue teams and members of district administration reached the scene soon after receiving the information of the incident. While the SCBA officials reached at the site of the incident site late morning, eyewitnesses added. The KMC machinery for the removal of debris and concrete material also reached at the incident site late in the morning.

In June 2017, SBCA had issued eviction notices to residents of 354 unsafe buildings following the first monsoon spell in the city.

The collapsed building had unfortunately not been listed as ‘danger building’ in the SBCA survey report.

According to SBCA, nine buildings in Liaquatabad area have been declared dangerous for living but there lies a great need to resurvey the entire Liaquatabad’s residential and commercial buildings by SBCA in order to ward off building collapse incidents in future.

The ongoing constructions in the area have been unchecked and unapproved by the concerned building authorities including SBCA.

People continue to live in dangerous buildings across the city, despite notices being issued by the authorities concerned.

Mayor Karachi has attributed the collapse of building to the negligence of SBCA. He has also assured the affected residents that they would be provided free of cost food and abode till their permanent settlement. How ever most of the effectives have shifted to their relatives till they don’t find a suitable place to live.

Director General SBCA has said that debris and other structural material of the collapsed building would be removed within the next three days.

Published in Daily Times, July 19^th , 2017.