Toll in Pakistan factory collapse rises to 53

Islamabad, Nov 8: The toll from collapse of a four-storey factory in Punjab province of Pakistan has risen to 53.

More bodies of victims of the Sundar Industrial Estate tragedy were recovered on Sunday. Rescuers said there are still chances of survivors under the rubble, Geo TV reported.

Rescue officials said over a hundred survivors have so far been pulled out from the debris of the Rajput Polyester manufacturing factory near Lahore city.

Injured survivors said the factory's owner, who was adding a new floor to the building, had ignored an advice from his contractor to stop construction after cracks appeared in the walls following a powerful earthquake on October 26.

Of the 167 people trapped in the building, 109 were rescued. Most of them had minor injuries, rescuers said.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old youth, Shahid, was pulled out alive from the debris of the factory 51 hours after the tragedy struck on Friday.

IANS