The stairway of a four-storey building, located near Pakistan Chowk in Karachi, collapsed in the wee hours of Tuesday, leaving around three women stranded inside.

Snorkel and fire engines took part in the rescue operation and rescued trapped women safely. No casualties were reported.

Assistant Commissioner Aram Bagh said, ‘‘We will check the four floors of the building. If the building is in a dilapidated condition, we will save it.’’

Last year in December, Al-Ramzan Tower in Karachi, a six-storey apartment block crumbled to the ground sending residents fleeing in terror.

According to the reports, many buildings in old areas of Karachi like Pakistan Chowk were constructed in violation of the Sindh Building Control Authority rules and were deemed illegal.