MULTAN: Nine people were killed and two others injured when a three-storey building collapsed on top of another in Multan after a gas cylinder exploded, officials said.
District Emergency Officer Dr. Kaleemullah told Dawn.com that the bodies and injured were recovered from the debris after a five-hour operation involving 70 rescuers. He added that five family members were among the dead.
The incident took place in the Mohalla Jawadian area near the Haram Gate. Multan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Captain Rizwan Qadir, retired, has ordered an inquiry into the unfortunate incident. “A technical team has been formed to physically check the surrounding buildings,” he said. Multan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Chaudhry said the building collapsed due to a war blast, according to a preliminary report.
“In the initial report, there was an explosion in the three-storey building due to the explosion of a pressure cylinder,” he said. “The roof of the building collapsed onto the mud house below, trapping the occupants under the rubble.”
Multan Commissioner Maryam Khan also arrived at the scene of the incident and ordered a survey of the condition of the buildings.
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“Instructions have been given to the city office to survey dangerous buildings,” she added. “The district administration has decided to launch a high-level investigation into the tragedy.”
Commissioner Maryam confirmed that the injured persons were treated at Nishtar Hospital. Multan DC Qadir said the committee will be headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Saif.
“The commission of inquiry will investigate in detail the causes and damages of the incident,” he added. “Physical inspection of dangerous buildings in the inner city has also begun.
The Deputy Commissioner said that a strategy would also be formulated to resettle people living in dilapidated and unsafe buildings.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life in the tragedy.
In a post on X, the PML-N quoted her as saying: “Extends sincere condolences to the bereaved families and urges immediate action from the Multan Commissioner to file a thorough report.”
