Karachi Building Collapse Kills One, Injures Two
A Karachi building collapse killed one man and injured two others on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Part of a two-storey building fell near the New Nazimabad Flyover on Manghopir Road. Rescue 1122 pulled three people from the debris and took them to hospital. Search teams were still at work in case more people were trapped.
The roof of a small confectionery shop at a street corner near Shabbir Medical collapsed during ongoing construction work, the rescue service said. The dead man was identified as Abdul Bari, 45, son of Abdul Aziz. The two injured people were also taken to hospital. Rescue officials said more people might still be under the rubble, and the search was under way.
The Express Tribune reported the collapse from Rescue 1122. The incident happened in the morning, and rescue teams reached the site soon after the collapse.
Chief minister seeks report on Karachi building collapse
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the collapse. He directed the authorities to speed up the rescue work and clear the debris. He also directed that the injured be given the best possible medical treatment. He sought a report on the incident from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).
“What were the causes of the incident, and was there any negligence?” the chief minister asked. He directed the authorities to provide details. The SBCA is the body that approves building plans and checks construction in the province. Its report will have to answer two questions: whether the construction work was approved, and whether the building was safe to work on.
The collapse is the second of its kind in Karachi in recent days. Earlier, an under-construction bridge structure that was part of the Bus Rapid Transit project collapsed near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, killing a security guard. Two collapses in one city in a short span will add to the pressure on the building control authority to show it is checking sites.
Why building safety keeps failing in Karachi
Karachi has a long record of building failures. Old structures, unapproved additions and weak oversight all play a part. Builders add floors without approval. Shops and homes sit in buildings that were never designed for the load. Construction work goes on next to people who live and trade in the same building.
The Manghopir Road case fits that pattern. A confectionery shop was trading at a street corner while construction work went on above it. The roof gave way during that work. Whether the work had approval, and whether anyone checked the structure before work began, are the questions the SBCA report must settle.
Enforcement is a recurring problem in the city: rules exist, but they are applied unevenly. Feature Pakistan has reported that an anti-encroachment drive in Karachi fell flat. The same applies to buildings, where action often comes only after a collapse.
What happens next
Rescue teams will keep searching the debris until they are sure no one else is trapped. The injured are in hospital, and their condition has not been stated. The SBCA report will go to the chief minister, who has asked for the causes and for any sign of negligence. If the report finds unapproved work, the builder and the officials who failed to stop it could face action.
Karachi’s residents will watch for more than a report. They will want to know whether the SBCA will inspect other buildings under construction in the same area. A single inquiry after each collapse has not stopped the next one. The city needs checks before work starts, not reports after it fails. Double-decker electric buses are now running in Karachi, and Karachi University has opened a mental health centre.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Karachi building collapse happen?
Part of a two-storey building collapsed near the New Nazimabad Flyover on Manghopir Road in Karachi. The roof of a small confectionery shop near Shabbir Medical fell during construction work.
Who died in the Karachi building collapse?
Abdul Bari, 45, son of Abdul Aziz, was killed. Two other people were injured. Rescue 1122 pulled three people from the debris and shifted them to hospital.
What has the Sindh chief minister said?
Murad Ali Shah took notice and directed the authorities to speed up rescue work and give the injured the best treatment. He sought a report from the Sindh Building Control Authority and asked what caused the collapse and whether there was negligence.
Was anyone else trapped in the debris?
Rescue officials said more people might be trapped beneath the rubble. Search and rescue work was under way to find any remaining victims.
