Toll in Pakistan mosque roof collapse rises to 24

, Sept 10: The toll in the

roof collapse in

's eastern city of Lahore rose to 24 on Wednesday even as rescue work continued in the area, media reported.

The collapse happened on Tuesday afternoon when around 30 to 40 people were praying inside the mosque located in the suburban Daroghawala area of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

Residents said the structure of the mosque building was very old and its huge minaret fell due to the recent heavy rains, bringing down the roof with it.

About seven people who were in the ablution area outside the mosque also got injured in the incident, Xinhua reported.

30 to 40 people were praying inside the mosque when the roof collapsed

Even after 20 hours, rescue work could not be completed, as heavy machinery could not be transported to the site due to narrow streets.

Dozens of people have died because of roofs collapsing following continuous heavy rains in in Punjab province.

In a press release, the National Disaster Management Authority Wednesday said that over 203 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in rain-triggered accidents in the country in the recent spate of monsoon rains.

The government has urged the residents of dilapidated buildings to vacate the structures as safety measures.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reached the mosque roof collapse site and announced financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased.

IANS