VEHARI: Twenty people, 17 women among them, were injured when the roof of a banquet hall caved in at Burewala`s 112/EB, about 50 kilometres from here, on Sunday evening.

The walima ceremony of trader Naeem Bhutta`s son was arranged at a banquet hall and guests had gathered when the roof came crashing down. Twenty people including Kishwar, Samina, Bushra, Alia, Perveen, Nadia, Amina, Nimra, Shakila, Shamim, Zahida, Sumera, Mehvish, Saima, Mehfooz, Jawed and Zain Bhatti were injured and taken to the Tehsil Headquaners (THQ) hospital.

Officials of Sheikh Fazal police said some women were admitted to the hospital with fractures.

ASI Saeed Ahmed said the hall seemed to be in a rundown condition but detailed investigation would make it clear what led to the accident.

Some people corroborated the policeman`s claim about the rickety roof and use of substandard material in the marriage hall.

THQ hospital Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Imran told Dawn that some women and children were discharged from the hospital after treatment for minor injuries and a few of the injured were under treatment. He said all of them were out of danger.

SHO Rashid Subhani said it was a small banquet hall at Chak-112/EB and some women were sitting on the roof while others were inside the hall. Suddenly the roof of the hall collapsed due to substandard construction of pillars. He said police registered a case against banquet hall owner Shaukat Shah who escaped after the inciden1.-GULZAR BAIG