KARACHI: A colonial-era building, which had been vacated by its residents due to its dilapidated condition, collapsed in the old city area on Wednesday.

Rescue-1122 official Hassaan Khan said that the three-storey building collapsed near Pan Mandi within the jurisdiction of the Risala police station.

The rescuers reached the spot and started removing debris from the collapsed building. As per initial information, nobody was reported injured.

He said they were informed that it was a derelict and heritage building. It was already vacated by residents and some labourers were demolishing it, ostensibly to build another structure, when the whole building collapsed, he added.

Mr Khan said there were also several other British-era buildings on the same street that were also stated to be heritage buildings.

An adjacent building was also in a dilapidated condition and there were apprehensions that it may also collapse because of its extremely weak structure. There were some people residing in it. The rescue team advised them to vacate the building to avoid any eventuality but they refused to do so, the officials said.

Meanwhile, two teenage boys drowned in separate incidents in the sea, rescue services officials said on Wednesday.

According to Mr Hassaan Khan, a 12-year-old boy, identified as Jordan Baber, drowned in the sea at Mai Kolachi crossing on Tuesday evening. In another incident, a 15-year-old boy drowned in the sea at Mai Kolachi NLC Stop on Wednesday, an Edhi Foundation spokesperson. His body was found floating in the water. It was recovered and sent to a hospital .

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024