At least 10 people were killed and six others injured after a three-storey residential building collapsed in Lahore’s Baghbanpura area on Wednesday night, rescue officials said.
According to Rescue 1122, emergency teams pulled 16 people from the rubble after the building collapsed in the Kotli Pir Abdul Rehman neighbourhood at around 10:15pm.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said six victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining injured were shifted to hospital. Four more later succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to 10.
He said four people remain in critical condition at Services Hospital, while two others have been discharged after receiving treatment.
The deceased were identified as Shahida Bibi, 45; Samina Bibi, 45; Mujahid, 22; Hamid, 7; Komal; Hasnain, 10; Neelam, 10; Ahad Ali, 22; Ayesha Bibi, 18; and Naseem Bibi, 72.
Those receiving treatment for critical injuries were identified as Saniya Bibi, Sehar Bibi, Zahid and Sabir Ali.
Farooq Ahmad said rescue workers were continuing search operations but could not confirm how many people had been inside the building when it collapsed.
“Rescue 1122 is only aware of people recovered from the collapsed building and is unsure how many people were actually present at the time of the incident,” he said.
Police said the building, described as being in a dilapidated condition, housed members of an extended family living on different floors. An immediate rescue operation was launched after the structure gave way, with teams working through the night to search for anyone still trapped beneath the debris.