11 perish in roof collapse at Rohri

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 4 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 in 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, Mir Zaheer Abbas.

The Deputy Commissioner Sukkur, Rahim Bakhash Maitlo suspected gas leak from the kiln to have caused the accident. 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 used the kiln where chemicals were employed to process the dry dates.

He said a case would be registered against Lashman Das who owns the warehouse.

Meanwhile, Governor Sindh, Chief Minister Sindh have sought report of the incident and ordered the district authorities to ensure best possible medical care of the injured.