A five-year-old child died, and four others were injured early Wednesday when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed in the Yakki Gate area of Lahore.
The structure, weakened by recent rains and lack of maintenance, gave way in the pre-dawn hours. Rescue 1122 teams arrived shortly after neighbors reported the collapse, pulling the victims from the debris.
The child, identified as Abdullah, was pronounced dead on arrival at Mayo Hospital. Rescue officials confirmed that the four injured—two women and two children—remain under medical observation. Doctors describe their condition as stable, though they continue to monitor for internal injuries.
Local residents say the house was in a precarious state for years. The Walled City of Lahore is home to hundreds of similar structures, many of which are designated as dangerous by the municipal authorities. Despite periodic notices from the district administration, many families remain in these homes due to a lack of affordable housing alternatives.
“We heard a thunderous sound and rushed out,” a neighbor told reporters at the scene. “The entire roof had simply disintegrated.”
Police have cordoned off the site to ensure the safety of surrounding residents, as the remaining walls of the house appear unstable. The incident has reignited questions regarding the enforcement of building safety codes in Lahore’s historic districts, where aging infrastructure frequently poses a fatal risk during monsoon season.
The district administration has yet to announce an inquiry into the building’s structural history or provide immediate compensation for the affected family. For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the survivors and clearing the rubble from the narrow, congested street.
