Rescuers in Pakistan have pulled over 100 people alive from the rubble of an under construction bag-manufacturing factory that collapsed here, killing at least 19 people, officials said today.
The collapse occurred yesterday at the four-storey Rajpoot Polyester polythene bag factory in the Sundar industrial Estate area where the expansion work of the factory was going on, according to the reports.
"So far 19 people have been killed," a rescue official said, adding that over 100 people have been rescued so far.
The search and rescue operation went on throughout the night as there are reports of people trapped inside the rubble, he said.
It is believed that about 100 people are still trapped in the fallen building. With the passage of time, the chances of survival of victims are getting dim.
Noting that the focus of the operation was on the search for survivors, a top administration official said that 102 people had been rescued.
He said rescuers were using audio and video technology during the search operation.
Relatives expressed anger as more than 17 hours have passed since the mishap and the rescue work was still far from over. TV footage showed hapless relatives crying for support.
Factory owner Rana Ashraf was also killed in the incident, Geo TV reported.
Known as Rajpoot Industry, the facility was used to manufacture polythene bags and part of the building was under construction with dozens of workers employed.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the place to monitor the rescue operation. He ordered probe into the collapse and promised to take action if human element including negligence was involved in the accident.
The factory may have suffered structural damage in the October 26 quake, he said.
Army was also called in during the night as officials scrambled to clear the site. The army said specialists were deployed at the spot to help the rescue effort.
Soldiers and rescuers were busy lifting the debris of the collapsed-structure, less than two weeks after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake jolted the nation, killing nearly 400 people across Pakistan and Afghanistan.
