Five dead as lift collapses at under construction building in Karachi

KARACHI: At least five persons lost their lives in lift accident at an under-construction building in Karachi on Saturday, ARY News reported.

The accident caused when a construction lift used by labourers collapsed at a building in Boat Basin area of the metropolis, rescue sources said.

Three persons were also seriously wounded in the incident, sources added.

Dead bodies and wounded persons were shifted to nearby hospital by the rescue teams reached at the site immediately after the accident.

However, the reasons for the accident were not yet disclosed.

Local administration is waiting for machinery to remove the broken lift that is still hanging dangerously along the building increasing fear to cause more damages.

Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) South said that the incident caused due to lift collapse when labourers were busy in installing mirrors on the under construction building.

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Further investigation was underway to find out reasons for the accident in other aspects, he said.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed concerned departments to provide facilities to the affected labourers besides investigating into the accident.

World-related accidents or illnesses are common in Pakistan which mainly caused due to the criminal negligence of the authorities and builders who failed to implement basic safety and health standards for labourers.

According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, around 2.2 million people die every year due to work-related accidents or illnesses, more than 270 million workers are injured and an estimated 160 million suffer work-related illnesses.

The organisation had adopted more than 40 standards specifically dealing with occupational safety and health, as well as over 40 Codes of Practice. Nearly half of ILO instruments deal directly or indirectly with occupational safety and health issues.

The ILO adopted the systematic approach to safety and health at work with a Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention adopted in 2006.