A catastrophic roof collapse at a Benazir Income Support Center in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab claimed eight women’s lives on Monday, injuring dozens more in Rahim Yar Khan. The incident highlights glaring safety lapses in public welfare facilities packed with desperate recipients.
Over 200 women had queued up at the center in Chak Number 125 for their aid payments when the fragile ceiling buckled under the pressure. Rescue officials reported that the building’s roof, made from inferior materials, crashed down without warning, burying the crowd in rubble.
Chaos ensued as survivors scrambled from the wreckage, with some eyewitnesses claiming a stampede exacerbated the injuries. While unconfirmed, reports suggest seven women died on the spot, amplifying the toll.
Paramedics ferried the wounded to Sheikh Zayed Hospital, where overwhelmed doctors declared multiple fatalities. The local government activated emergency protocols, deploying additional resources to treat the 50-plus victims battling severe injuries.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner Zahir Anwar Jappa detailed how the first-floor venue became a deathtrap due to overcrowding. Probe teams are scrutinizing construction records, focusing on the retailer’s premises used for distributions.
This disaster echoes past mishaps, like the 2022 Sindh Zakat stampede that killed 12, urging calls for nationwide audits of welfare sites. Families mourn as Pakistan grapples with the human cost of neglected infrastructure, demanding accountability and reforms.