"We ensured no one was left behind.”
The Lyari building collapse has claimed 27 lives and left 10 others injured.
Rescue teams recovered the final victim, 15-year-old Muhammad Zaid, from deep within the rubble near a staircase, nearly two days after the collapse.
Zaid’s elder brother, who survived, said he had tried to save him when the structure began to crack, but lost his grip during their escape.
Their father and two other brothers were also killed in the incident.
According to Civil Hospital authorities, among the deceased were 11 women and 16 men, as well as a one-and-a-half-year-old child.
Many were injured, with ten treated and discharged. A woman named Sanatia remains under care.
The tragedy unfolded on July 4, 2025, when the five-storey residential building crumbled.
Officials say several rickshaws and motorcycles were destroyed, as locals frequently used the space beneath the structure for parking.
Rescue personnel, including teams from Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation, worked under difficult conditions due to Lyari’s congested alleys.
Rescue In-Charge Hameer Wahid confirmed that 95% of the debris had been cleared.
He said: “No families remain on site. We ensured no one was left behind.”
Cash, cheques and jewellery recovered during the operation were handed over to the local union council chairperson.
The final stages of the rescue relied on specialised tools after family members urged teams to revisit deeply buried sections of rubble.
In the wake of the Lyari building collapse, another seven-storey structure in Agra Taj Colony was evacuated on July 5.
This was after officials discovered dangerous leaning and cracks worsened by recent rains.
According to the South Deputy Commissioner, the building housed 57 residents in 12 flats and has since been sealed with its utilities disconnected.
Authorities say the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) declared the building uninhabitable following an inspection.
Temporary accommodations have been arranged, though many displaced families chose to stay with relatives or nearby.
One woman staying in a KMC school described the shelter as “unfit for living”, echoing growing concerns over the conditions.
Amid rising anger, affected residents accused SBCA officials of corruption, alleging they accepted bribes and ignored structural violations during construction.
A formal FIR was filed at Kalri Police Station, charging the builder and contractor for allegedly using substandard materials and flouting safety regulations.
The deputy commissioner added that legal action will be pursued against any government personnel found complicit.
Lyari Municipal Officer Hammad ND Khan confirmed that all dangerous buildings in Lyari will be evacuated in phases.
A full operation plan will be finalised during a meeting led by the Sindh chief minister on July 7, 2025.
The government has pledged to develop a relocation policy to ensure alternative housing for those displaced.
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