16 dead, 71 injured in Lahore factory collapse

LAHORE: At least 16 people died and over 71 were injured while 100 labourers were feared trapped under the debris of a four-storeyed plastic bag manufacturing factory which collapsed in the Sundar Industrial Estate area on Wednesday evening.
In view of the gravity of the situation, troops were moved to the site in a special plane while Rescue 1122, the Edhi Foundation and other emergency teams continued their work to recover the buried.
Rana Ashraf — the owner of factory - was among the dead, the Raiwind ASP claimed. The names of other deceased and injured persons could not be known so far.
The four-storey building of the factory caved in at around 5:15pm when over 150 workers were working there. As a result, all except a few were trapped under the debris. The workers who survived the incident called Edhi and Rescue 1122 officials who reached the scene within no time.
Fifty ambulances of the Edhi Foundation along with 100 Razakars were moved to the site for the rescue operation. The Rescue 1122 moved 20 ambulances and 15 fire vehicles. Four special vehicles were also dispatched to the site.
As the workers were trapped under heavy concrete, the rescuers faced problems to remove the debris. However, big cutters and other latest equipment were used to remove the debris and recover the trapped. The victims were witnessed crying and seeking help from under the debris.
The Lahore CCPO, Rescue 1122 DG and DCO reached the scene and supervised the rescue operation. The site was cordoned off. However, a large number of volunteers from the area participated in the rescue operation. The incident created panic in the locality. The families of the victims reached the scene and kept praying for the safety of their loved ones. Moving scenes were witnessed at the spot. The labourers aged between eight and 40 were working in the factory at the time of the incident.
The injured workers told media persons they had complained about the dilapidated condition of the building time and again, but the owner turned a deaf ear to their complaints. They alleged that the factory had approval for three storeys but the owner was constructing the fourth one.
A factory labourer, who was lucky enough to escape the disaster, told The New that heavy machinery was being unloaded on the fourth floor when the building collapsed.
The recent earthquake further weakened the structure. On Wednesday, masons were working in the building to strengthen its pillars.Sources said the factory had been constructed in a residential area against building by-laws.
Soon after the incident, doctors and paramedical staff of all hospitals were put on high alert. Most of the injured were shifted to the Sharif Medical Complex and Jinnah Hospital. The chief boiler inspector told reporters that the incident happened due to the collapse of pillars mounted in the basement of the building. He said most of the workers were present in the basement. However, an injured worker claimed that 150 labourers were present at the ground floor.
The Rescue 1122 spokesperson said they had shifted three bodies and 13 critically-injured people to different hospitals so far. He said emergency vehicles had been dispatched to the factory from Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Kasur for backup.
The Edhi Foundation spokesperson said they had removed seven bodies from the scene and over 100 people were feared trapped under the debris.DCO Capt (retd) Usman said it was too early to tell about the exact number of the dead and injured persons. He said all-out resources and available machinery were being used to rescue the trapped.Later, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif went to every injured labourer and inquired after him at the Sharif Medical Complex.
Talking to media persons, he said Rs 5 lakh each would be given to the heirs of the dead. He said best medical facilities had been provided to the injured. He said provincial ministers, administration and relief agencies were present at the site and all efforts were being made to rescue the trapped under debris. He said he had ordered probe into the incident and action would be taken against the responsible.
He directed that helping desks should be set up in the hospitals where the labourers were under treatment. He said staff should be present in hospitals and guide the attendants. He said the factory collapse was tragic and he equally shared grief of the heirs of the labourers who died. He also sympathized with the bereaved families.
Earlier, taking immediate notice of the incident, he directed the institutions concerned to accelerate relief activities and personally supervised them. APP adds: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief over the casualties in the building collapse. He has directed the Punjab government to expedite rescue efforts.