KARACHI: At least 13 people, including seven children died as a rockslide hit shanties erected in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar area early Tuesday, rescue sources said.
Rescue teams at the site of the incident. ─ DawnNews screengrab.
Rescue teams reached the site of the incident and recovered the bodies of three women, three men and seven children from beneath the rubble.
Rangers and police personnel also arrived at the scene and participated in the rescue operation.
Heavy machinery was called in to help clear the area as the rocks hit shacks built on a plot in Gulistan-i-Jauhar's Block 1 area.
Two families comprising 13 people were living in the shanties hit by the rockslide, area residents said.
The recovered bodies have been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for legal formalities.
Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Faisal Sabzwari and Muhammad Hussain visited the site and inquired about the rescue operation.
Rescue teams undertaking rescue operations at the site of the rockslide. ─ DawnNews screengrab.
Speaking to the press, Shoaib Siddiqui said that the administration was making efforts to rescue the survivors, if any.
He said heavy machinery had been engaged to clear the rubble, but that no time frame could be provided for completion of the rescue operation.
When asked about allegations of china-cutting of the land, Shoaib Siddiqui told DawnNews he had directed the Karachi Municipal Corporation land department to investigate the matter and submit a report immediately so that appropriate action could be taken.
He said the matter was not clear as yet, and he could only confirm once he received the record.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief over the incident and instructed authorities to aid the families of the victims, Pakistan Television reported.
Also read: Three labourers killed, three buried under debris on Margalla Hills





Comments (23) Closed
First of all who allowed such settlements to spring up here. Mismanagementt,corruption,inefficiency and ignorance hold sway in Sindh government departments.
Truly Sad
RIP.
Much expected it was. The shanties were too much into a danger of being collapsed with the rock slide. once probe out the matter it would be KBCA who is responsible for the carnage as over-digging the rock has caused the incident. those who are responsible should summon before the court.
very sad..
Do the civic authorities keep their eyes and ears open or respond only after the trauma? Unless organized low cost houses are made available by the government katchi abadis will keen on emerging.
Was it natural or man-made? Is there any chance that the shacks were illegal and somebody has made the rock to slide so that these families can be removed from here?
Very sad.
Who is giving them permission to build houses on such a dangerous location? Rangers should put minsters and the officials of building control authority behind the bar forthwith.
Incident has been happened. Is their any learning for safety measures in Future ? No !
rest in peace
This is the time to help the victims first than blame government
Its near my house , saw it personally, the jhuggis were situated at a wrong place, if these poor people had homes this wouldn't have happened
The rumours say there was a didpute between two parties over the right of the plot. The agencies should also take this fact unto consideration.Very sad incident.RIP.
we have no value of human life where is responsible sindh government Were are Jumat e Islami, P T I and PPP leaders to raise questions for residences of Shanti Nagar residences Of course they would be activated for Baldiati Election
We do not believe in any such thing at all according to which the relevant persons /authorities are ever punished for allowing such illegal settlements. Corruption...corruption every where. when all high officials get their share of bounty who cares for legal and illegal ?
Johar has such many sites; are these hills safe for construction! I find it very precarious at places.
I know vety well k electric personal give them cunda connection for a few bucks whereas such connections are punishable ubder the law. When these people get such facilities they will keep on settleing everywhere in karachi. This type and fires will kerp on occuring.
So sad. Too many people, too little of everything else.
And only the poor suffer
Very Sad.. may the departed souls rest in peace.
Where are the politicians from PPP and MQM?
It is imperative that Local Governments be put in place to overcome, and remove such problems.