KARACHI: Six people, including a father and his teenage son, died while six others were injured when strong winds tore off the tin roof of an under-construction mosque in North Nazimabad during Friday prayers, according to police officials.

They said the temporary structure comprising tin sheets, with fans affixed to them, were “not properly installed”, while construction work was under way for the extension of the mosque situated in Block-H of North Nazimabad.

The mosque, Jamia Masjid-i-Usman, was sealed on a temporary basis following the incident. Further legal action would be taken when the district administration would file a report to ascertain if the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) requirements had been fulfilled while constructing the mosque, said Karachi Central SSP Muqaddas Haider.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah ordered immediate rescue work, proper treatment to the injured and removal of debris under the direct supervision of district central commissioner. He said: “If the mosque was under construction, who had allowed the administration to hold prayers there?” He also sought a report from the Karachi commissioner on the incident.

According to the police and hospital officials, the deceased included a father and his teenage son. The victims were identified as Faisal Yaqub, 46, his 18-year-old son Abdul Rafay, Humayun Rabbani, 28, Haji Akhtar Husain, 50, and Saleem Ashraf, 45.

Among the injured, 28-year-old Rafiullah was said to be in critical condition. Others were identified as Asghar, 30, Meraj, 46, Mohammed Sami, 40, Ishtiaq, 32, Mohammed Noman, 32, and Syed Waqar Ali, 46.

The people had offered Farz prayer and were offering Sunnat prayer when the temporary structure fell on them, the police said. They were rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where four of them were pronounced dead on arrival while another victim died during treatment at the hospital, said additional police surgeon Dr Rohina Hasan.

The injured were admitted to the hospital for treatment. The condition of one of them was critical, added Dr Hasan.

About the cause of death, she said the victims sustained head and chest injuries caused by some hard and blunt substance.

The additional police surgeon said there was “extreme shortage of doctors” despite the fact that emergency was declared at the hospital.

Sindh Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro told the media that the mosque was under construction. He said that he had ordered an inquiry into it.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2016