LAHORE: At least eighteen people have been killed after the roof of a mosque collapsed in the Droghawala area here on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Rescue 1122 told APP that the incident took place when Zuhr prayers were being offered in a mosque near Daroghawala, adding that rescuers had started relief work with the cooperation of locals.

He said more people were feared trapped under the rubble and that rescue teams were trying to remove the debris.

The injured people have been shifted to nearby hospitals including the Services Hospital while the bodies were taken to the Mayo Hospital.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also visited the site of roof collapse of Jamia Hanfia Daroghawala to review the rescue and relief operations.

Punjab Minister for Food Bilal Yasin, MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir, MPA Waheed Gul, Commissioner Lahore Division Rashid Mehmood Langrial, CCPO Amin Wainse, Director General Rescue 1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer, DCO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman and DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf also visited site of roof collapse to review rescue operations.

The Commissioner Lahore briefed the chief minister about the incident, and relief and rescue operations.

The chief minister inquired about the injured and directed the officials to utilize all resources to remove the debris. He also directed the officials to provide best facilities to the injured.

He also announced Rs 500,000 each for the families of the deceased.

A large number of people of the area participated in the rescue and relief operation while the electricity was also suspended for little span of time due to the rescue work.