Mohali building collapse: 2 dead, 4 feared trapped; rescue underway
NDRF, Army, and state rescue teams have been working at the site since Saturday evening. Medical teams, along with an ambulance, have also been deployed
The death toll in the Mohali building collapse climbed to two on Sunday (December 22) with the body of a man being recovered from under the rubble, officials said.
The multi-storey building collapsed on Saturday (December 21) evening in Sohana village of Punjab's Mohali district.
Reports said at least four people are feared to be trapped in the rubble of the collapsed building.
One male body was recovered during the ongoing rescue operation, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mohali, Damandeep Kaur said, according to an official statement.
The identity of the deceased was being ascertained, the statement said.
Earlier, a 20-year-old woman died in the incident on Saturday evening. The woman hailing from Himachal Pradesh, died after she was pulled out of the debris of the building. She was rescued from the rubble in critical condition and was rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Rescue efforts continued overnight.
A man hailing from Ambala Cantt told reporters at the site that his 29-year-old son, who used to visit a gym in the building, was missing.
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Two building owners booked
Police have booked two building owners in the incident.
Several excavators were pressed into service as part of the rescue operation.
National Disaster Response Team (NDRF), Army, state rescue teams have been working since Saturday evening to address the crisis. Medical teams, along with an ambulance, have also been deployed at the site since Saturday evening.
As the operation continued at the site, required equipment and machinery have been made available to the rescuers, in addition to those brought by the NDRF and Army.
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Army carrying out rescue
"IndianArmy reacted swiftly for the rescue. In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, #IndianArmy Columns along with #NDRF and State rescue teams have been relentlessly working to address the crisis.
"Engineer Task Force with debris clearance machine & JCBs are operational at site. Top debris removed & efforts being done to reach the basement," Western Command, Indian Army, said in a post on X.
After the incident on Saturday, all major hospitals in Mohali such as Civil Hospital (attached within Medical College), Fortis, Max and Sohana, were put on alert to cater to the wounded.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, who was at the spot on Saturday, had said a multi-agency rescue effort was underway.
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'Efforts underway to clear debris'
Mohali SSP Pareek said, "Our teams are working. Efforts are underway to clear the debris as soon as possible. Lighting arrangements have been made for the operation." A resident said a loud noise was heard when the building collapsed.
Preliminary information suggests the building, which also had a gym, collapsed due to digging in an adjacent plot.
A gym member said she escaped the collapse as she skipped her session on Saturday. Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang and Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh reached the spot to oversee the rescue work.
Kulwant Singh said, "It is an unfortunate incident. Rescue operation is in full swing."
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Mann monitoring situation
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is closely monitoring the situation, officials said.
In a post on X, Mr. Mann expressed his grief over the incident, saying, "Sad news has been received that a multistorey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has collapsed. The entire administration and other rescue teams have been deployed at the spot. I am in constant touch with the administration."
"We pray that there is no loss of life, we will also take action against the culprits. Appeal to the people to cooperate with the administration," the AAP leader further added.
(With agency inputs)