LAHORE: A man died while 11 others were injured, two of them critically, when a single-story building of a private bank collapsed at Chauburji here on Friday.

The incident occurred due to gas leakage resulting in a powerful blast that razed the building to the ground, according to the initial police inquiries.

Twelve people, including customers and employees and officials of the bank, got trapped under the debris.

Rescue 1122 launched a rescue operation, Iqbal Town Division SP retired Capt Mohammad Ajmal told Dawn.

He said the man who died in the incident was Iqrar Hussain (38), a customer. The SP said the injured people had been shifted to the Services and Mayo hospitals where Iqrar died while the condition of two others was reported serious.

Mr Ajmal said apparently it seemed the building collapsed due to a gas leakage blast.

“The operation to remove wreckage of the collapsed building is in progress and the police will start investigation once the operation is completed,” the SP said.

A woman was also among the injured.

Some witnesses said two motorbikes and a car parked outside the bank building were also damaged due to the intensity of the blast.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2020