Karachi: At least five persons were killed and several, including children, were feared buried under the rubble when the makeshift roof of an under-construction mosque collapsed during Friday prayers in this Pakistani port city.
The incident happened when a temporary sunshade fell on the courtyard area of the Usman mosque in North Nazimabad. The mosque was overcrowded due to first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.
Five persons were killed and 10 were injured. Several others, including children, were feared trapped under the rubble, Dawn News reported. The injured have been taken to hospitals where four are in critical condition.
Eye witnesses said the collapsed structure was a makeshift extension, which was erected to protect worshippers from the scorching heat during day-time prayers. Ceiling fans were also attached to the extension that collapsed, they added. Maximum temperature in Karachi often reach 40 degrees Celsius in summer.
Station House Officer Hyderi Zulfiqar Hyder said the roof collapsed when the main prayer ended and people were offering supplementary Sunnah prayers, the report said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan have expressed grief over the incident. In December, 22 people, mostly children, were injured as the roof of a seminary collapsed in New Karachi.
