July 14, 2006	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 17, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

MIRPURKHAS, July 13: Three members of a family were killed and eight others were injured when a double-storey building situated near the new Sabzi Mandi collapsed here Wednesday night.

The owner of the building, which was situated near the Ring Road, was running a hotel on the ground floor, while his family lived on the first floor. The incident occurred at around 1:15am when his family members were asleep.

Three people, Mohammed Rizwan, 40, the owner, his wife Ms Yasmin alias Susan, 38, and his son Mohammed Amir, 12, were buried in the debris. Their bodies were found after hectic efforts.

The injured were identified as Mohammed Irfan, Rashid, Noor Mohammed Khaskheli, Ms Sobia, Rehan, Ms Shagufta, Ahsan and Ramiz.

They were taken to the Mirpurkhas Civil Hospital. Three buffalos and four goats were also killed.

Edhi volunteers, MQM activists, police personnel and local people took part in the rescue operation.

Excavator machines were sought to recover the persons had gone under the debris. Citizens and police demonstrated their exemplary cooperation on this occasion. DCO Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, and DPO Abdul Hadi Bullo also reached at the spot.

Ali Hassan Mengal, owner of a goods company next to the collapsed building, attributed the building’s collapse to its weak foundations and said that work was in progress to add another storey to the building.

He said that he had been inside the hotel when the house collapsed.

He said that he lost consciousness but remained unhurt.

Advisor to the Sindh chief minister Jadam Mangrio and district Nazim Mirpurkhas Dr Sughra Junejo visited the area on Thursday morning and condoled with the relatives of the deceased and injured.

PPP: Local leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and elected representatives of people condemned in a joint statement what they said attempt on the life of Sindh People’s Students Federation (SPSF) City President Farooque Chishti.

PPP Mirpurkhas President and MNA Pir Aftab Hussein Shah Jilani, District President Haji Noor Hassan Chandio, Member Sindh Council Siddique Memon, Jehangir Mughal, Ali Akbar Panhwar, Comrade Mehboob and former provincial minister, Hari Ram Kishori Lal said that some persons were trying to harass party workers with an aim to strengthen their hold on the city.

They said that another party activist, Junaid Buland, had been in illegal detention for two years. The party would not accept any pressure, they added.

They demanded that the government ensure registration of FIR about the incident and arrest persons involved in the attempt on the life of their colleague.