KARACHI – July 17, 2025: A tragic incident struck Karachi’s Lyari area on Thursday as the roof of a 6th-floor apartment collapsed, killing two sisters and injuring three others, including their daughters.
Roof Collapse in Lyari’s Khadda Market Claims Lives
The deadly incident took place in the densely populated Khadda Market locality of Lyari. According to police, the roof of a sixth-floor apartment gave way, crashing onto the fifth floor of the ageing residential building.
Police and rescue teams responded swiftly, launching emergency rescue operations. The victims were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi, where hospital authorities confirmed receiving two deceased women and three injured individuals.
Victims Were Sisters, Daughters Among Injured
DIG South Karachi confirmed that the two women who died were sisters, and the injured included their daughters, highlighting the vulnerability of families living in deteriorating buildings in Karachi’s older neighborhoods.
Chief Minister Orders Probe, Urges Action on Dangerous Buildings
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the grieving families. In a public statement, the CM directed:
- Immediate medical treatment for the injured
- A comprehensive investigation into the collapse
- Submission of a detailed report by the Karachi Commissioner
- The evacuation of hazardous buildings across Karachi, especially in Lyari
He also ordered the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to take urgent action against structurally unsound buildings, emphasizing that no negligence in rescue or relief efforts would be tolerated.
Lyari Faces Repeated Building Disasters
This latest incident comes just two weeks after a major building collapse in the same area claimed 27 lives and injured many others. Lyari, known for its working-class population, has numerous old, unmaintained residential structures at risk of collapse.
Over 578 Unsafe Buildings Identified in Karachi
The SBCA has declared 578 buildings in Karachi as dangerous and unfit for habitation, with 456 located in District South, which includes Lyari. The breakdown across districts is as follows:
- Central District: 66 unsafe buildings
- Keamari: 23
- Korangi: 14
- East: 13
- Malir: 4
- West: 2
Urgent Need for Structural Safety in Karachi
The Lyari roof collapse has once again exposed the urgent need for building inspections, maintenance, and evacuations in at-risk areas of Karachi. The Sindh government has pledged full support to affected families and promised accountability for any lapses in safety enforcement.
