LAHORE: The death toll from the Lahore building collapse in the Baghbanpura area has risen to 10 after rescuers recovered the body of a woman from the rubble on Thursday. Rescue officials said the operation remains underway as a young girl is still believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The tragic incident occurred when a three-storey residential building suddenly collapsed, trapping dozens of residents inside. Authorities said the building was home to three families at the time of the collapse.
According to rescue officials, four women are among those who lost their lives in the disaster. Rescue workers continue to remove debris using heavy machinery in the hope of finding any remaining survivors.
A total of six injured victims have been admitted to various hospitals across Lahore, where they are receiving medical treatment.
Officials at Mayo Hospital confirmed that the bodies of Komal, Javed, Ahad, Neelum, Hamad, and Hasnain were brought to the hospital for legal formalities and identification.
Meanwhile, Services Hospital received four bodies, including two victims identified as Shahida Bibi and Sameena Bibi. The hospital is also treating four injured victims identified as Sonia Bibi, Shahid, Sahar, and Zahid.
Earlier reports had confirmed six fatalities, while 10 injured people were rescued from the debris and shifted to nearby hospitals. As the rescue operation progressed, additional victims were recovered, increasing the death toll to 10.
The rescue effort involves 10 emergency response vehicles and more than 40 rescue personnel, who have been working around the clock to clear the rubble and search for survivors.
Police officials said the exact cause of the building collapse has not yet been determined. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the tragedy was caused by structural weaknesses, poor construction, or other factors.
The Lahore building collapse has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of aging and poorly maintained residential buildings in densely populated urban areas. Residents have urged authorities to conduct inspections of unsafe structures and take preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Rescue officials said the search operation will continue until every section of the collapsed building has been cleared and all missing persons have been accounted for.
