11 killed in Lahore house collapse, officials say rain likely weakened structure

At least 11 persons of a family were buried alive when a three-story building collapsed in Lahore city of Pakistan, an official said Thursday.

A birthday function was underway when the building, possibly weakened due to heavy monsoon showers, collapsed in Harbanspura, a low-income thickly populated area of Lahore, late on Wednesday night.

According to Lahore Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz, three brothers along with their wives and children were living in the three-storey house in Harbanspura.

"The family's sister and her children too had joined the birthday party when the house building collapsed, leaving around 20 persons trapped under the rubble," Ejaz said.

"Bodies of 11 people, including women and children, were recovered while six persons were taken out alive and shifted to a hospital," he said.

"Two to three persons are still believed to be under the rubble," he added.

He, however, did not give a break-up for the deceased.

The deputy commissioner further said recent heavy monsoon rains might have weakened the structure that subsequently collapsed.

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