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Nine people were killed and two others injured when a three-storey building collapsed on top of another in Multan following a gas cylinder explosion, officials said.
District Emergency Officer Dr Kaleemullah told Dawn.com that the bodies and injured were rescued from the rubble following a five-hour operation in which 70 rescue personnel participated. He added that five individuals of a family were among the dead.
The incident occurred in the Mohalla Jawadian area near Haram Gate.
Multan Deputy Commissioner (DC) retired Capt Rizwan Qadir ordered an inquiry into the unfortunate incident. “A technical team has been formed for the physical inspection of surrounding buildings,” he said.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Multan Sohail Chaudhry said the building collapsed due to a cylinder blast, according to a preliminary report.
“In the initial report, there was an explosion in the three-storey building due to a cylinder blast,” he said. “The roof of the building collapsed onto the mud house below, trapping residents under the debris.”
Multan Commissioner Maryam Khan also reached the site of the incident, where she ordered a survey into the state of buildings.
“Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation for the survey of dangerous buildings,” she added. “The district administration has decided to hold a high-level inquiry into the tragedy.”
Commissioner Maryam confirmed that the injured persons were receiving treatment at Nishtar Hospital.
Multan DC Qadir said the committee would be headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Saif.
“The inquiry committee will conduct a detailed review of 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 a strategy will also be formulated for the relocation of people living in dilapidated and dangerous buildings.
Punjab CM expresses condolences
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the tragedy.
In a post on X, the PML-N quoted her as saying: “She extends heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and urges immediate action from the Multan commissioner for a thorough report.”