One person died and six others, including a child, were injured when a five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Ghaziabad on Sunday. Several others are still feared trapped under the debris as rescuers continue to work on a war-footing at the site of the building collapse.
“As soon as we got the info, police responded immediately. Rescue work is being done on war footing. We have rescued seven people out of whom one died and 6 are in hospital,” ANI quoted DIG Law and Order Praveen Kumar as saying.
The building located in Mishal Garhi collapsed at 3.30 pm when the workers were giving finishing touches to it.
The incident comes five days after two buildings collapsed in Greater Noida’s Shahberi Beri village, killing nine people.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were immediately pressed into service after the incident.
“Till now five labourers and a five-year-old child have been rescued,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna.
Those rescued have been sent to a hospital for treatment. The police said that the building was a shelter for labourers.
#UPDATE:थाना मसूरी के मिसल गढ़ी में गिरी निर्माणाधीन इमारत में बचाव कार्य करती हुई #NDRF की टीम। pic.twitter.com/eccWbTcISm
— GHAZIABAD POLICE (@ghaziabadpolice) July 22, 2018
“Prima facie, there seems to be issues with the quality of the building. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. Seven people have been rescued and sent to the hospital. Rescue operations are underway,” Ghaziabad DM Ritu Maheshwari was quoted as saying by ANI.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the DM and SSP Ghaziabad to visit the site of building collapse in Ghaziabad and take immediate action for rescue operations along with NDRF. He has also told officials to lodge an FIR and take action against those guilty.
According to reports, there are no details yet on who was the owner or builder.
Officials reportedly said that a probe would confirm what led to the collapse of the building though initial assessment suggests heavy rain and a weak foundation.
The police said that an investigation will be launched as soon as the rescue operation is over.
Earlier today, authorities in Greater Noida ordered a building in Shah Beri village to be vacated after a crack developed on one of the pillars.
(With inputs from agencies.)