KARACHI – Tragedy struck in Lyari’s Khadda Market neighbourhood when a six-storey building’s roof caved in during routine repairs, killing two women and injuring three young girls.
The collapse occurred atop Ghani Mansion while workers were fixing the roof of the top floor. Hurmat Rafiq (40) and Hamida Rizwan (45), sisters, were killed instantly. Three children present—two of whom were their daughters—were hurt and promptly taken to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital.
Rescue 1122 teams, along with police and Rangers, swiftly responded, evacuating the wounded and cordoning off the unstable structure. The building has since been sealed pending a detailed safety assessment.
Lyari’s ageing infrastructure has long raised alarm; city officials recently identified over 100 potentially hazardous buildings in the district. Provincial Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani acknowledged earlier regulatory failures and confirmed that an enhanced building inspection campaign has been launched, with nine high-risk structures already evacuated and legal steps underway within 15 days.
This marks the second deadly roof collapse in Lyari in recent weeks, renewing community demands for stricter oversight and proactive enforcement to prevent further structural catastrophes.
