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| India-Pakistan |
| 18 die in Lahore factory accident |
| 2015-11-05 |
| LAHORE: At least 18 labourers were killed and dozens injured when an under construction factory collapsed in Lahore Wednesday evening, rescue and city administration officials said. More than 70 people were rescued from under the debris till late in the night, DCO Lahore Capt (retd) Mohammad Usman said. “The rescue workers have so far retrieved 16 dead bodies while at least 40 injured have been taken to hospitals,” Usman, the city's top administration official who was coordinating the response to the disaster, said. Later, Edhi officials told Dawn they shifted 18 dead bodies to hospitals. The injured labourers, some of them critical, were shifted to Jinnah Hospital and Sharif Hospital where they received emergency medical treatment. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the site and said it was possible the building had been damaged after the October 26 earthquake. “I have heard the earthquake affected the building, but according to labourers the owner continued to build an extension,” he told reporters. He announced a compensation of Rs0.5 million for the heirs of the labourers who died in this unfortunate accident. Rescue officials further said around 100 people are feared trapped under the debris, including underage employees, and the death toll is expected to rise. The factory is located in Lahore's Sundar Industrial Estate and manufactures polythene bags. Rescue officials faced difficulties during rescue operations, which continued throughout the night. However, the use of heavy machinery was halted until sunrise. The DCO Lahore said that the actual number of casualties will be ascertained once the rescue operation is completed. He, however, claimed that all available resources are being utilised to carry out the rescue and relief operation. Army teams also reached the site and carried out search and rescue operation alongside the city administration teams, the ISPR said. The military was flying urban search-and-rescue teams to the scene, said a military spokesman in a text message. “Army engineers have been immediately moved for the rescue operation,” the message said. Video and more at the link |
| Posted by:badanov |