KARACHI, October 2, 2026: One person was killed after part of an under-construction structure linked to the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project collapsed near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque on University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal early Thursday morning.
Rescue 1122 received information about the incident at around 5:30am and reached the site within minutes. The man was found trapped beneath the debris and was later recovered and shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
Rescue officials initially described the deceased as a security guard based on the clothing and whistle found with him. However, they later said his identity and employment status could not be confirmed. Officials also said the exact cause of the collapse was initially unclear.
Rescue 1122, Edhi, Chhipa, police and Rangers took part in the emergency operation. Rescue teams also searched the debris for other possible victims, but no evidence of additional people being trapped was found.
TransKarachi CEO Zubair Channa later gave a different account of the incident, saying the collapse involved heavy shuttering supported by pipes. He said the construction area had been secured with barriers and other safety measures.
The incident occurred as construction work on Karachi’s long-delayed Red Line BRT project continues. The project is planned to connect Malir Halt with Numaish through University Road and is expected to provide a major public transport route across the city.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, while the circumstances surrounding the collapse remain under examination.
