11 perish in Rohri roof collapse incident

SUKKUR: As many as 11 people have died and 13 were injured following roof collapse at a warehouse in Rohri dry dates market, apparently due to gas leak. The dead also included four women, while condition of seven is stated to be critical.

On Wednesday, the concrete roof of the Komal Traders warehouse in the Rohri dry dates market (Chohara Market) caved in with a deafening roar, trapping as many as 60 workers, including women. Initially, the rescuers fled the scene assuming the roof collapse to be the result of a bomb explosion, which delayed the rescue effort, but returned later. Police, army and Rangers personnel also joined the rescue work with the help of heavy machinery. The deputy commissioner Sukkur and Chairman District Council, Sukkur, supervised the rescue operation. Following the incident, emergency was also imposed at the Rohri and Sukkur Hospitals.

The dead were identified as Mst Hazoora, w/o Atta Muhammed, Madham, d/o Sajhro, Mst Rooza, Mst Mukhtiar, Aamir Ali, Rasool Bakhasah, Abdul Khaliq, Abbas Ali, Ali Gul, Rashid Ali and Mir Zaheer Abbas.

The Deputy Commissioner, Sukkur, Rahim Bakhash Maitlo, suspected a gas leak from the kiln could have caused the incident. According to Maitlo, the warehouse was sealed on the directives of the Water Commission as the chemical laden effluents from the said warehouse were being discharged into the Indus River, causing pollution in the fresh water body. He, however, charged the owner of the warehouse of illegally operating the facility and using the kiln where chemicals were employed to process dry dates. He said a case would be registered against Lashman Das, who owns the warehouse.

Meanwhile, Governor Sindh and chief minister have sought reports of the incident and ordered the district authorities to ensure the best possible medical care of the injured.