Five crushed as school wall comes tumbling down

A crumbling boundary wall of a government school in Orangi Town collapsed on seven people on Friday, killing five and seriously injuring the rest, raising concerns over the safety of nearly 450 boys and girls studying at the school. The incident occurred near Football Chowrangi in Sector 11, Block L, within the limits of Mominabad police station. Police, Edhi and Chhipa rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving the alert, while a large number of area residents joined the rescue effort. Rescuers pulled all seven victims from beneath the rubble and shifted them to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Five of them were pronounced dead, while two others, identified as 26-year-old Qasim and 50-year-old Naushad, sustained serious injuries. One of the deceased was identified as 22-year-old Shahzaib, while the identities of the other four victims were being ascertained. According to a statement issued by SSP West spokesperson Tariq Elahi Mastoi, the initial investigation suggested that the victims were drug users who had allegedly been trying to remove iron rods from the dilapidated wall when it collapsed. Mominabad SHO Shahbaz said the collapsed structure was part of the government school's boundary wall and had fallen from the rear side of the premises. He said the entire boundary wall was in poor condition, with cracks visible at several points. The school caters to students from first to matriculation and has around 450 boys and girls enrolled across its two shifts. Residents said they had repeatedly complained to the relevant authorities about the deteriorating condition of the boundary wall, but no action had been taken. Residents also said the area behind the school had become a gathering place for drug users, who allegedly used the spot to consume drugs. They questioned how the drugs were reaching the area despite repeated complaints to police. The family of Shahzaib said he was the third of six siblings and had worked at a footwear shop before falling into drug addiction. His family said they had arranged treatment for him, but he relapsed. Residents urged the authorities to take immediate notice of the incident and repair the school's boundary wall to prevent a similar tragedy, particularly given the large number of children attending the school.