16 die as gas explosion brings down residential building in Karachi

As many as 16 people were killed while 18 others injured when a three-storey building collapsed after explosion due to gas leakage in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar on Thursday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The tragedy happened in the Gul Rana Colony area of Soldier Bazaar. The deceased included four children and three women.

According to Rescue 1122, all the dead and the injured were shifted to Civil Hospital and rescue operation was ongoing. A girl was rescued alive by Rescue 1122.

A police officer informed media men that the explosion occurred due to a gas leak, resulting in part of the building collapsing.”

Rescue 1122 said that search and rescue operations were ongoing, with an urban search and rescue team and a disaster response vehicle present at the scene.

The police spokesperson added that a large contingent of officers, along with rescue teams, reached the scene soon after the incident was reported.

“Police cordoned off the area and tightened security, while rescue agencies initiated a search and rescue operation,” said the police spokesperson.

The deceased included 60-year-old Muhammad Riaz and 10-year-old Nazia while the process of identifying other dead bodies was underway.

The injured were named as 20-year-old Junaid, 6-year-old Zainul Abidin, 40-year-old Kamran, 50-year-old Waqia, 14-year-old Bilawal, 8-year-old Bushra, 6-year-old Adnan, 6-year-old Riaz, 25-year-old Taslim, 8-year-old Subhan and 60-year-old Muhammad Shahid.

All the injured were shifted to the hospital after providing first aid on the spot.

Talking to the newsmen at Trauma Centre, Dr Shaheen Zafar said that 16 dead bodies and 18 injured were brought here.

Eight of the injured have been discharged after treatment while 10 were still under treatment.

The incident occurred at around 4:00 am, when families start preparing sehri, the pre-sunrise meal eaten during Ramadan.

Last year in July, 27 people were killed and 10 injured after a five-storey building collapsed in Karachi's impoverished area of Lyari.

Around 600 buildings were declared dangerous in Karachi by the government.

Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials in the South Asian country of more than 240 million people.

But Karachi, home to more than 20 million, is especially notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of building regulations.

3 منزلہ عمارت 18 سال پرانی تھی#karachi #building #karachimatters pic.twitter.com/rT3w0t9wz4

— Karachi Matters (@khimatters) February 19, 2026

CM Murad takes notice 

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the explosion in the building due to gas leakage in Soldier Bazaar in Karachi. 

He ordered the Karachi Commissioner to investigate the incident. 

The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious lives and directed the relevant institutions to immediately evacuate people buried under the rubble. 

He also directed to provide best medical facilities to the injured.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police of Karachi East said that the nature of the explosion in the Soldier Bazaar residential building will be determined after chemical analysis.

According to initial information, the explosion was caused by gas leakage, DIG said.

He said the incident will be investigated and whether the building was legal or illegal, the relevant department will inform.

Action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, he said.

President, PM express deep grief

President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the collapse of a building in Soldier Bazaar, Karachi.

In a statement, the President expressed sympathy with the families of the deceased.

He issued directives for the provision of the best medical facilities to the injured.

The President directed that the rescue operation be carried out promptly and effectively.

The President instructed the Sindh government to ensure thorough inspection of buildings, safety of gas cylinders and strict implementation of building codes.

He said the provincial government should conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident and make efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the building collapse incident in Karachi.

Commiserating with the bereaved families, he prayed for the departed souls.

The Prime Minister instructed to provide all possible medical treatment to the injured.

Reporters: Usama Malik and Salman Saleem