Karachi — Four days after a tragic building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari area, victims remain without any government-provided shelter. The search and rescue operation concluded after 60 hours, with officials confirming 27 deaths, including 16 men, 10 women, and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl. Another 11 people were injured.
According to rescue authorities, 20 of the 27 deceased belonged to the Hindu community. Many survivors are now living with relatives or at the Maheshwari Community Center, said Shri Ram Nath Maharaj, a representative of the Hindu community. He appealed to the Prime Minister to take notice of the situation.
The tragedy has left the local community in deep mourning. A female doctor, who treated several of the deceased as patients, broke into tears while speaking to the media, expressing sorrow over the loss of children she had seen grow up in the neighborhood.
Among the losses were not just lives, but livelihoods. One man’s only source of income—his rickshaw—was destroyed in the collapse. Authorities say over 50 motorcycles and rickshaws were damaged under the rubble.
Emotional scenes unfolded as a geometry box belonging to a young girl named Inamta was found in the debris, along with her school notebook and report card—showing she had secured an A-One grade. Now homeless, her future remains uncertain.
In another tragic moment, the brand-new 125cc motorcycle of 20-year-old Shoaib was found crushed under the debris. He had purchased it just a week earlier. “He was my uncle’s son. He was so excited about his new bike, not knowing he’d never ride it,” said his cousin.
The community continues to wait for government support, as grief and frustration grow over the lack of response.
