At least 11 killed as three-storey building collapses in Lahore's Baghbanpura 

Lahore (Web Desk): At least 11 members of a single family lost their lives and six others were injured after a three-storey residential building collapsed in Lahore's Baghbanpura area late Wednesday night, officials confirmed.

According to Lahore Deputy Commissioner's spokesperson, the death toll climbed to 11 after rescue personnel recovered the body of an elderly woman from beneath the wreckage. Rescue teams continued their search operation on Thursday afternoon as they believed a young girl was still trapped under the debris.

The spokesperson added that the building was occupied by three brothers along with their families. Their sister had also come to visit with her children to celebrate a birthday on Wednesday evening when the building suddenly gave way.

He said that the structure crumbled progressively, with each floor collapsing onto the one below until the entire building was reduced to rubble.

Authorities have not yet established what caused the building to collapse. Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz has ordered a formal investigation to determine the reason behind the incident, according to an official statement issued by his office.

The statement added that the deputy commissioner was personally overseeing the rescue efforts, while Rescue 1122 teams, assisted by district administration officials, remained engaged in removing debris from the site. Heavy machinery had also been brought in to accelerate the operation.

The deputy commissioner instructed all officials involved in the rescue mission to ensure that every person believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed building was recovered safely.

The tragedy occurred only a month after another fatal building-related incident in Lahore's Kahna area, where the roof of a tuition centre collapsed, killing 14 children.

A day after that disaster, police registered a case against the tuition centre owners and the building contractor. The first information report (FIR) stated that soil had been placed on the already weakened roof, and the additional weight ultimately caused the structure to collapse.