KARACHI: A section of an under-construction bridge linked to Karachi’s Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project collapsed near Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, resulting in the death of a security guard.
According to rescue officials, the guard was performing his duty at the construction site when the structure collapsed. His identity had not been confirmed at the time of the reported incident.
Rescue teams reached the location and recovered the body from the site. It was later shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medico-legal procedures.
Officials said the rescue operation was completed and the area was subsequently cleared. Details regarding the cause of the structural failure were not immediately available.
The collapsed section forms part of the Red Line project, one of Karachi’s major mass-transit infrastructure schemes. Construction work on the project is continuing at various locations along its route.
The incident also brings attention to safety arrangements around major construction sites. Contractors and project authorities are generally required to maintain appropriate measures to protect workers and members of the public during construction.
Earlier, a separate compensation claim related to an accident near the Red Line project was reportedly filed in the Malir Court. The claim involved the death of a motorist in an accident on University Road in January.
According to the petition, the vehicle struck a concrete barrier that was allegedly difficult to see at night. The petition claimed that the barrier lacked reflective markers, hazard tape and warning signs.
The court claim represents allegations by the petitioner and does not by itself establish liability. Any responsibility for the latest bridge collapse would depend on the findings of the relevant authorities and any investigation into the incident.
