Couple Dies as Roof Collapses After Rain
Preliminary incident report says the mud-and-wood roof of two rooms collapsed at around 8am; another vulnerable house in the locality was identified during a subsequent safety assessment.
ISLAMABAD: A husband and wife died after the roof of their house collapsed in Islamabad’s Madina Town following rainfall on Tuesday morning, according to a preliminary incident report.
Roof Collapses After Rainfall
The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 8:00am when the roof covering two rooms of the residential property gave way.
The structure was described in the report as being primarily constructed from mud and wooden members supported by girders.
The collapse left a married couple, both reported to be between 50 and 60 years old, critically injured.
They were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for treatment but later succumbed to their injuries, according to the incident report.
Daughter Also Injured
The couple’s two daughters were also residing in the house.
One of the daughters sustained injuries in the collapse, while the preliminary information provided did not specify the nature or severity of her injuries.
Photographs from the site show extensive structural damage, with sections of the roof and walls collapsed and household belongings surrounded by mud, bricks, timber and other debris.
Nearby House Found Vulnerable
Following the incident, an assessment of nearby properties was also carried out.
According to the report, another house with a mud-constructed roof was identified as potentially vulnerable. Its occupants were advised to temporarily relocate until the roof could be properly reinforced.
Rainfall Raises Structural Safety Concerns
The incident highlights the risks associated with ageing or vulnerable structures during periods of rainfall, particularly houses incorporating traditional mud, timber or otherwise weakened roofing systems.
Rain-related roof and wall collapses have caused casualties elsewhere in Pakistan during previous monsoon spells, with emergency and disaster-management authorities repeatedly identifying structurally vulnerable buildings as a particular risk during heavy rainfall.
The precise structural cause of the Madina Town collapse, beyond its reported occurrence following rainfall, would require a technical assessment.
Islamabad Tribune has therefore not independently attributed the collapse to structural negligence or any individual or authority.
