LAHORE: At least nine people have been confirmed dead after a three-storey house collapsed in Lahore’s Bhatta Muhammad Din Colony near Sukh Nehar Stop in the Baghbanpura area, while rescue teams continued efforts to recover survivors trapped under the debris.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed, the building collapsed at around 10:15pm on Wednesday. The house, located within the jurisdiction of Harbanspura police station, was occupied by three families, including elderly people, women and children.
“Nine deaths have been confirmed so far,” Farooq Ahmed said, adding that the rescue operation was continuing despite the dangerous condition of the collapsed structure.
District Commissioner Lahore Captain (retd) Ali Ijaz said the final number of casualties could not yet be confirmed as rescue teams were still working at the site.
“Our rescue teams are still inside the building. We cannot confirm the final figures until the operation is complete,” he said.
He added that several people had been pulled out from the rubble, while rescuers continued searching for others. “The operation will continue until the last person is recovered,” he said.
Rescue Emergency Officer Hamad Rizwan said narrow streets around the collapsed building created difficulties for emergency teams.
“As soon as we received the emergency call, our teams reached the site. The lanes are extremely narrow, which has made the rescue operation more difficult,” he said.
Rizwan said the building collapsed floor by floor and unstable walls were creating risks for rescuers.
“This was a three-storey house and all three floors collapsed one after another. At this stage, it is too early to say when the operation will be completed,” he added.
Officials said several injured people were shifted to Services Hospital, while others received medical assistance at the scene.
Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf visited the accident site and later reviewed medical arrangements at Services Hospital. He said the injured were being provided the best possible treatment.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed Lahore’s administration to oversee rescue efforts. She also ordered authorities to ensure medical facilities for the injured and conveyed condolences to the families of those killed.
Rescue teams remained engaged at the site as efforts continued to locate people feared trapped beneath the debris.
The incident comes weeks after another building collapse tragedy in Lahore’s Kahna area, where 14 children died after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed. Authorities had launched an investigation into that incident, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed condolences and directed officials to provide assistance to the victims.