ISLAMABAD : July 19, 2023: At least 11 persons died and six other injured when a wall collapsed on a tent in heavy downpour on morning hours on Wednesday erected for its labour working on an underpass on Grand Trunk Road near Peshawar More.
During heavy downpour in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad the wall collapsed on the tents where labour were made to live while working on an under construction underpass near Peshawar More on GT Road.
The spokesperson of Pakistan Institute of Medical (PIMS) Executive Director , Dr Daha confirmed that dead bodies of 11 persons were brought to the hospital who lost their lives in an incident of fall of wall on their tent. He also confirmed that six other injured were also brought to the hospital who were being treated . According to Dr Daha, PIMS hospital has been put on high alert to deal with any situation. Dr Daha said an emergency has been declared at PIMS after the incident and those who injured in the incident were being provided the best medical facilities.
Prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif , has taken serious notice of the incident and ordered to PIMS hospital administration to treat inured urgently. He also ordered inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority (NHA) has denied that the wall that collapsed on the labourers during heavy rains today in Islamabad was a part of an under construction underpass at Peshwar More on GT road. The spokesperson for NHA said the walls of under construction walls of underpass at Peshawar More were safe and sound.
A day before, a road accident at GT road at Sohan bridge had claimed lives of four persons in Rawalpindi again at GT road. These two accidents which claimed precious lives expose poor safety measures of NHA for construction work at busy roads. Killing of 11 labourers in wall collapse incident in Islamabad raise many questions. It discloses how are living conditions of the labourers who work for private contractors/ companies.
Will busy prime minister take out some time to ponder how the poor families will make their lives whose earning hands have perished in Wednesday’s wall collapse incident?.