At least eight women were killed and more than 50 others injured on Monday after the roof of a building collapsed during the distribution of welfare payments in Rahim Yar Khan district of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, according to local media reports.
The tragic incident occurred at a centre linked to the Benazir Income Support Programme, where a large number of women had gathered to collect their welfare payments. Reports said that more than 200 women had assembled inside and around the building when the structure suddenly gave way.
According to Pakistan’s Dunya News television channel, the collapse occurred near Chak No. 125 in a suburban area of the city. The roof of a retailer shop, reportedly constructed with substandard materials, was unable to withstand the pressure of the large crowd gathered on the first floor and collapsed, trapping several women under the debris.
Rescue teams and local authorities quickly rushed to the site and launched relief operations to pull out those trapped under the rubble. The injured were transported to Shaikh Zayed Hospital for medical treatment. Hospital authorities confirmed that five women were declared dead upon arrival, while several others are undergoing treatment for injuries.
The district administration immediately declared an emergency at the hospital to ensure prompt medical care for the victims. Local officials said rescue operations continued for several hours as emergency workers cleared debris and searched for any remaining victims.
Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa told Xinhua News Agency that the accident occurred when a large crowd had gathered on the first floor of the building to receive payments under the welfare programme.
Some eyewitnesses claimed that at least seven women died at the scene and dozens were injured during a stampede that followed the collapse, although officials have not yet confirmed these accounts.
The incident has raised concerns over safety arrangements and infrastructure at public welfare distribution centres.
In a similar tragedy two years ago, at least 12 people, including three children, were killed in a stampede during Zakat distribution near Norris Chowrangi in the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate area of Karachi. According to reports by Edhi Foundation volunteers, panic broke out after a power line reportedly fell during the distribution event, although the claim was later denied.
