Red Line BRT bridge collapses in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, killing a site guard

A section of an under-construction Red Line BRT bridge collapsed in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, early on Thursday 1 October 2026, killing a security guard on duty at the site. The structure came down near Baitul Mukarram Mosque on University Road, part of the stretch of the Red Line bus rapid transit project that has been dug up for years.

Red Line BRT collapse: what we know

• Where: near Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, on the University Road corridor.
• What fell: part of an elevated bridge structure being built for the Red Line BRT.
• Casualties: one man, a duty guard at the construction site, was killed. His name had not been released by Thursday morning. ARY News reported that his body was taken to Jinnah Hospital.
• Rescue: Rescue 1122 said its operation was complete and that no one else was trapped under the debris.
• Cause: officials had not given one by Thursday morning.

The stretch where it happened

The Red Line runs from Malir Halt (Airport) to Numaish. It is split into two lots:

1. Lot 1: Airport to Mosamiyat.
2. Lot 2: Mosamiyat to Numaish along University Road, where Thursday's collapse happened.

The project was launched with a 30-month target that ended in June 2024. Geo News reported that Lot 2 has had repeated stoppages, contractor disputes and financial problems; the earlier contractor's contract was terminated in 2025, and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is now building it. The Asian Development Bank, which is financing the line, has raised concerns about the pace of work, quality and safety on site.

It is not the first safety complaint. In August 2026 a Karachi citizen sued for more than Rs 172 million in damages after his father died in a road accident involving an unlit concrete barrier placed on University Road for the project, ARY News reported; his lawyer said the barrier had no reflectors, hazard tape or warning signs.

What it means if you use University Road

• Expect slow traffic around Baitul Mukarram, Gulshan Chowrangi and NIPA while debris is cleared, and use Rashid Minhas Road or Shahrah-e-Faisal where you can.
• Keep clear of construction zones at night, when barriers are hardest to see.
• Report hazards such as unlit barriers or open trenches to the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (TransKarachi) or Rescue 1122 (dial 1122).

We will update this story when the Sindh government names the victim or orders an inquiry.

More from Karachi: other recent Pakistan news and the Karachi passport and CNIC one-stop centre plan.