Gulshan-e-Iqbal BRT Collapse: Reason Turned Out to Be Drug-Addicts and Material Theft

A deadly collapse at an under-construction Red Line site in Karachi has raised fresh concerns over theft from public infrastructure after officials said people had been removing iron pipes and other materials from the project.

A section of shuttering and scaffolding at the Red Line BRT project near Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal collapsed on October 1, killing a man at the site. Rescue 1122 initially described him as a security guard, while his identity remains unconfirmed.

CEO TransKarachi Zubair Channa said the incident did not involve the collapse of the main bridge structure. He said a heavy section of shuttering fell after someone tried to cut or remove a pipe supporting it. Other sections then collapsed.

Officials Point to Material Theft

Channa said initial information showed that people had crossed the safety barriers and entered the construction area. He said some individuals had been trying to remove pipes and other materials from the site.

He also said drug addicts had been seen stealing from construction sites in recent months. Security teams had removed several people from project sites during regular patrols. TransKarachi said the investigation into the latest incident is still underway.

The incident has highlighted a wider problem affecting Karachi’s public infrastructure.

In August, reports said nine pillars of the historic Teen Hatti Bridge had suffered damage after people broke through the concrete to remove reinforcing steel. KMC later began rehabilitation work on the affected pillars.

A bridge on Shahrah-e-Faisal near Natha Khan has also suffered damage linked to the theft of steel, with repairs required after the removal of metal weakened the structure.

TransKarachi has said the complete cause of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal incident will be established through a technical assessment and investigation.