After the tragic Gul Plaza fire, another deadly incident has shaken Karachi. The Soldier Bazaar building collapse has raised serious concerns about illegal construction and weak regulatory checks in the city by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).
At least 16 people were killed and 14 others injured when a gas leak triggered a powerful explosion in a three-storey residential building in Soldier Bazaar No. 1.
The blast occurred in the early hours of the first day of Ramadan, at the time of Sehri, when residents were preparing their pre-dawn meal. The explosion was so intense that it caused a partial collapse of the structure and damaged nearby buildings.
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In an exclusive conversation with local media, the arrested owner and builder, Irshad, admitted that he had constructed the three-storey building on a 32-square-yard plot without an approved building plan.
He revealed that no official from the Sindh Building Control Authority ever visited or questioned the project, despite the building being fully completed.
Irshad said he had paid a contractor to carry out the construction. He claimed that he never sold the building and that all occupants were tenants.
According to him, rents ranged from Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 per month. He added that while he initially rented the property to two individuals, eight people were eventually living there.
Gas compressor explosion causes building collapse in Karachi, kills 16
The accused, who previously worked as a jeweler and later sold kites before driving a rickshaw, denied responsibility for the tragedy and blamed the residents instead.
Emergency teams from Rescue 1122 reached the site soon after receiving reports and began search and rescue operations. Fourteen people were pulled alive from the rubble, including a young girl.
The Bomb Disposal Squad confirmed that the explosion was caused by a gas leak. Officials said faulty kitchen gas fittings and the use of plastic pipes for gas supply increased the risk of leakage. They also revealed that gas compressor machines had been installed in the building.
Residents had been facing gas shortages for days, and a sudden restoration of high-pressure gas supply may have triggered the blast.
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The incident has intensified scrutiny of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), with allegations of negligence surfacing after the owner’s arrest. Many residents are questioning how an illegal structure could be built and occupied without official approval or inspection.
The Soldier Bazaar building collapse highlights ongoing concerns over unsafe construction practices in Karachi. Experts warn that without strict enforcement of building regulations, similar tragedies may continue to occur.
