April 5, 2003	Saturday	Safar 2, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, April 4: Punjab chief minister Pervez Illahi on Friday constituted a six-member committee, headed by District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani, to probe the cause of Bano Arcade collapse, which left two dead and many injured.

Other members of the committee include executive district officer (works), building officer, planning officer, director metropolitan planning, Rawalpindi Development Authority, and a local representative.

The chief minister, while talking to reporters at Holy Family Hospital, said responsibility would be properly fixed and the culprits be brought to justice.

He said the government might look into the possibility of instituting a system for monitoring construction work quality on big projects, particularly commercial buildings.

Mr Illahi announced an assistance of Rs100,000 each for the deceased, and Rs 25,000 each for the injured.

Meanwhile, Tehsil Nazim Raja Hamid Nawaz told this reporter that only three floors of the building had been approved, while the additional construction was illegal. He added that the Tehsil Municipal Administration had already served notices on the owner in this regard.

Citing his own observation, he said the construction material was extremely poor. However, he said proper investigations would be held to find out the cause.

Satellite Town Nazim Mian Imran Hayat appealed to the chief minister to enhance compensation amount for the deceased. He said the deceased were poor labourers and their heirs deserved better compensation.

Witnesses said neighbouring buildings, including a house, were partially damaged. Three children present in the house had a narrow escape. They were studying at the time of the accident.

The rescue operation is proceeding at a very slow pace and workers had evacuated only two stranded persons till the filing of this story. The rescued persons said some of their colleagues were still inside the building.

As many as 10 people, including women, are in the basement, which is still quite far away, the rescue workers said.

A family trapped in the basement confirmed their well being through cell phone. They, it has been learnt, are safe, but have started feeling suffocation.

List of the dead and injured:

Mohammad Shafiq and Nawab Khan were killed, and more than 35 were injured in the incident. Six of the injured are said to be in critical condition, official sources said.

Nawab Khan, 19, who belonged to Talagang died on the spot while Shafiq died in the District Headquarters Hospital.

The 23 of the injured were admitted to the Holy Family Hospital, four to the Rawalpindi General Hospital and four others were shifted to the DHQ hospital.

The injured were identified as Aziz Rehman, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ashraf, Esa Khan, Zahid Mehmood, Fojdar Mehmood, Ayub, Ghulam Hussain, Ali Raza, Mohammad Aqeel, Syed Qamar, Mushtaq Hussain, Mian Mohammad, Ghulam Nawab, Kashif, Hussain Ali, Arshad Mehmood, Ahmed, Anwar, Baber Hussain, Israr Ahmed, Zaheer, Munir, Munraiz Khan, Talaha, Aqeel, Qamar Zaman.

According to doctors, those who had been suffering minor injuries were allowed to go after providing the first aid.

Outside the Holy Family Hospital, relatives the injured and those who had been still missing were poring over lists of the injured pasted on the wall.

People unable to find their relatives were told to look on the scene where rescue operation was under way till midnight.

Senior Superintendent Police Rawalpindi SSP Syed Moravat Ali Shah told Dawn that a crimianl case would be registered after the inquiry commission constituted by the chief minister Punjab recomended and fixed the responsibility. The SSP said that two persons have been reported killed so  far, while six of the injured are said to be in critical condition.