Pakistan: 12 killed in crush at free food handout during Ramadan

Nine women and three children died in the incident in the southern port city of Karachi, police say, and eight people have been arrested.

James Robinson

News reporter @thejournojames

Saturday 1 April 2023 15:49, UK

People mourn next to the body of their family member, who was died in the stampede, at a morgue, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, March 31, 2023. Several people were killed in a deadly stampede at a Ramadan food distribution center outside a factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police and rescue officials said. (AP Photo/Ikram Suri)
Image: Devastated relatives mourn of a victim of the crush
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Twelve people have died in a crush in Pakistan while attempting to collect free food during Ramadan.

The incident happened as people rushed to collect food and cash outside a factory in the southern port city of Karachi on Friday.

Business owners often hand out cash and food during the Islamic holy month.

Police say nine women, aged between 40 and 80, and three children, aged 10 to 15, died in the crush.

Eight people, including the factory manager, have been arrested following the charity event.

Police say local authorities were not told about the giveaway before it took place.

A man comforts to another mourns on the dead of his family member in the stampede, at outside a morgue, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, March 31, 2023. Several people were killed in the deadly stampede at a Ramadan food distribution center outside a factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police and rescue officials said. (AP Photo/Ikram Suri)
Image: The crush happened in Karachi, Pakistan

Local police official Mughees Hashmi said the crowds began to panic and some women and children fell into an open drain.

Residents also said a wall collapsed near the drain, injuring and killing people.

Police spokesman Dr Hafeez Bugti added: "Factory management did not open the inside gate of the factory and, due to the narrow street, the people at the tail of the line pushed elderly women and children.

"As a result, pressure increased enormously, and women and children became the victims of the stampede."

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The chief minister of Sindh province, where Karachi is located, announced compensation for people injured in the crush and relatives of the victims.

Murad Ali Shah said each family who lost a loved one will receive 500,000 rupees (£1,400), while everyone injured will receive 100,000 rupees (£285).

Funerals were held on Saturday for some of the victims.

At least 23 people have died in Ramadan "food stampedes" since the start of the holy month.

Police officers examine the site of stampede, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, March 31, 2023. Several people were killed in the deadly stampede at a Ramadan food distribution center outside a factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, police and rescue officials said. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Image: Police officers examine the site of the crush

On Saturday, police fired tear gas at crowds who had gathered to receive free flour in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif launched an initiative to distribute free flour among low-income families to ease the impact of record-breaking inflation and soaring poverty during the holy month.

His coalition government is facing the country's worst economic crisis, with soaring inflation, rising food costs and soaring fuel bills - a culmination of years of political turmoil and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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