KARACHI – July 7, 2025
A tragic five-story building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari area has left the city reeling, with the death toll climbing to 27 and several more feared trapped under the debris. The collapse, which occurred around 10:00 AM on Friday on Fida Husain Shaikha Road near Lea Market, has triggered an intense and emotionally charged rescue operation that has continued non-stop for over 48 hours.
Authorities and rescue workers are now nearing the final stages of the operation, while devastated families and a united community struggle to cope with one of the city’s deadliest structural disasters in recent memory.
Despite blistering heat and choking humidity, Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation, and government agencies have worked tirelessly to pull survivors and bodies from the rubble. On Sunday, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan said the operation was expected to conclude in five to six hours, though several individuals remain unaccounted for.
So far, 27 bodies have been recovered, including, 15 men, 9 women, 3 children.
At least 13 people have been injured, while 10 have already been discharged from the hospital. A miraculous moment brought a flicker of hope when a three-month-old baby girl was found alive under the debris — injured but breathing.
The streets of Lyari have turned into a makeshift vigil, where mothers and sisters call out for missing loved ones, hoping for any sign of life.
Amid the devastation, Lyari witnessed a powerful display of interfaith harmony, as Muslim and Hindu neighbors stood shoulder to shoulder — praying together, distributing food and water, and supporting grieving families.
Volunteers set up a relief camp near the site to assist displaced families, especially women and children left without shelter. Much of the affected population belonged to the Kutchi Maheshwari Meghwar Hindu community, with over 16 Hindu victims confirmed dead so far.
The deceased will be buried (not cremated), in accordance with their tradition, at the Old Hindu Cemetery in Mowachh Goth, with last rites held at Old Kumharwara Kutchi Hall.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the site and later told reporters that:
The collapsed building was newly constructed but built without proper approvals.
“Immediate rescue efforts were launched to save survivors,” said Shah. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible for unauthorised construction.”
Shah revealed that over 480 buildings in old city areas — particularly District South — have been declared dangerous, reflecting a citywide crisis in building safety enforcement.
South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso stated that eviction notices were issued to the building’s residents in 2022, 2023, and 2024, warning them of structural risks.
However, residents and landlords dispute these claims. “We were never served any notice,” said Imran Khaskheli, a resident and partial owner. “Would anyone willingly risk their family’s life?”
He said he noticed cracks in the structure early Friday morning and went door to door urging people to leave — a warning many ignored.
Authorities confirmed that more than 50 buildings in the district have been declared unsafe, with six evacuated since Friday.
Maharaj Ram Nath, head priest of Shri Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir, called the incident “a disaster for the entire city.”
“We share the grief of every family,” he said. “We appeal to the government to provide immediate relief, support, and long-term housing for the victims.”
