GUJRAT, Feb 17: A commercial plaza at GTS Chowk collapsed on Thursday due to alleged use of substandard material in its construction. No loss of life was reported as the building was locked for three years.

The district coordination officer has directed the Tehsil Municipal Administration to investigate the allegation of frail structure due to the use of substandard material.

The market, where the roof of the building caved in, had been constructed on the site of the old bus stand of the defunct Government Transport Service.

Rescue 1122 officials said the triple-storey plaza, which had been lying vacant for the last three years, collapsed owing to poor construction material. They said hundreds of people visited the market daily for businesses but this particular building was not in use.

DCO Nawazish Ali, along with other district administration officials, inspected the rescue work and directed TMA Administrator Kamran Khan Afridi to demolish the rest of the damaged structure to save the adjoining buildings.

He also ordered an inquiry to ascertain how the blueprint of the building was passed by the TMA.