At least 11 people were killed and six others injured after a three-storey building collapsed in Harbanspura town of Lahore, Pakistan, late Wednesday night, according to local media reports. Rescue operations continued into Thursday, with officials still searching for a minor girl believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

What Happened

The Lahore Deputy Commissioner's spokesperson, Harris Ali, confirmed that the death toll climbed to 11 after rescue workers recovered the body of a woman from the rubble. The building housed three brothers along with their families; their sister and her children had gathered at the site for a birthday celebration on Wednesday night — just moments before the structure gave way.

Rescue teams were still working at the scene on Thursday, as a minor girl was reportedly trapped under the debris, according to reports citing Pakistan's daily Dawn.

Cause Under Investigation

The cause of the collapse remains unknown. Lahore DC retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz has ordered a formal investigation to determine what triggered the structural failure. He also directed officials at the site to prioritise the safe recovery of anyone still trapped under the rubble.

A Pattern of Building Collapses in Lahore

This incident follows a series of deadly structural failures in the city. On 30 June, the roof of a private tuition academy in Lahore's Kahna area collapsed, killing at least 14 children and injuring several others. Punjab province Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazeer confirmed that around 20 people had been trapped, including the 14 children who were brought dead to Kahna Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital.

Following that rescue operation, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, Farooq Ahmed, said a female teacher and eight children were taken to Lahore General Hospital (LGH) with multiple injuries. Ahmed noted: 'The children were very young, and there were two rooms in use. The ceilings collapsed and trapped the children.'

Rights Body Flags Systemic Negligence

The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan had, on 1 July, expressed serious concern over the Kahna tuition centre tragedy, alleging that the failure to inspect construction quality of academies and buildings in residential areas amounts to gross negligence. The HRC called on Pakistani authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent inquiry, provide medical support to injured children, and extend financial and psychological assistance to affected families.

'The protection of innocent children and the establishment of a safe educational environment for them is the state's primary responsibility, and immediate and stringent measures are essential to prevent such incidents in the future,' the HRC stated.

What Comes Next

With rescue operations still ongoing at Harbanspura and an investigation ordered by the district administration, authorities face mounting pressure to address what critics describe as a systemic failure of building safety oversight across Lahore. The coming days will determine whether the inquiry produces accountability or follows the pattern of earlier probes that yielded little structural reform.