Seven children among 13 dead as landslide buries shanties in Karachi
October 13, 2015
According to rescue services, seven children and three women were among the thirteen bodies dug out from the rubble. The dead belonged to the southern Punjab, said the local residents.
Rangers’ personnel also took part in the rescue effort that continued for hours till morning.
Sources said the landslide that occurred at 2 AM buried three shanties located on a plot in Block 1 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. Most of the people living in the shanties were asleep when the incident happened.
The rescue operation suffered a long delay, as the heavy machinery from the concerned departments arrived at least two and half hours after the incident.
Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Siddiqui, talking to Geo News said an investigative committee will be constituted to probe the incident.
Shoaib Siddiqui said the time lag between the occurrence of an incident and starting of a rescue operation will have to be minimized.
SSP East says:
According to SSP East, there have been complaints of land grabbing in various areas of district East.
He said an investigation will be conducted in connection with the plot where these shanties were established.
He further said that it will be ascertained after an investigation as to whether the incident was a natural occurrence or a planned act.
