The death toll from a mosque collapse in a densely-populated area of this Pakistani city has risen to 24 as 12 more bodies were pulled out from the rubble of the two-storey shrine.
Jamia Masjid Hanfia in Daroghawala -- a low-income, congested neighbourhood on the outskirts of Lahore close to the Wagah border -- collapsed yesterday when more than 50 people were offering afternoon prayers.
The huge minaret of the mosque fell and brought down the roof along with it.
Twenty-four worshippers died in the incident, rescue official Jam Sajjad told PTI. "We have almost completed the rescue operation. But we fear that a couple of bodies could be under the rubble," he said on Wednesday.
Twenty-one injured people have been admitted to city hospitals and the condition of seven is stated to be critical. The local people had launched rescue efforts and were later joined by Punjab Emergency Service Rescue officials.
"I heard a bang and rushed to the mosque. I found most worshippers buried under the rubble," said Azeem Rafique who runs a shop near the mosque. He said a few lucky ones survived as they were in the ablution area.
The civic agencies and area people said the recent torrential rains which have triggered floods and wreaked havoc in Punjab region may have contributed to the collapse.
"It appears that rain water entered the structure of the mosque and weakened it, which caused its collapse," rescue official Jam Sajjad said. Over 250 people have been killed across Pakistan in rain-related incidents, mostly due to collapse of roofs and electrocution.
The government has asked the residents of dilapidated buildings to vacate the structures for their safety. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced a financial assistance of Rs 500,000 each to the kin of victims.
