Karachi Factory Fire Gulps Nine Workers, Like Always
The incident is a sequel to past factory-fire incidents in Karachi where the victims have always been workers and owners remain on the loose
At least nine died due to an explosion in the boiler of an ice factory in Korangi’s Industrial Area Karachi on Tuesday after which fire broke out and this time too, the casualties were low-paid laborers and workers.
Besides deaths, some 17 factory workers also sustained burn injuries in the fire incident.
The incidents like this are not novel in the metropolis where the victims have always been the workers for whom life is already tough and making both ends meet for their families is as challenging as anything else can be.
With being mired in difficulties, the poor workers and laborers are not aware of their rights and even if they are, they do not dare to raise voice against lack of safety measures at the workplace.
The design of the mishaps may vary from incident to incident but what remains constant is the victims who are always the poverty-stricken workers in the factory.
The most deadly fire incident in Karachi was in a garment factory in Baldia Town in which over 300 laborers and workers were burnt to death and followed by many other accidents, not as intense as that, but of similar natures.
The apathy of the government towards the poor working class and leniency for the factory owners who fail to comply with the safety standards have remained constant throughout the years.
Follow-up of incident
Sources said that the building collapsed due to the explosion and many workers were buried under the debris.
The windows of the nearby buildings also shattered due to the intensity of the explosion.
The police, paramilitary rangers, and rescue institutions rushed to the site and pulled out the workers stuck under the debris.
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All of them were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital while ten casualties were discharged after given first aid.
Like after every incident, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Labor Minister Saeed Ghani took notice of the incident and sought a report from the labor department.
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