Police personnel and rescue workers search for victims in the rubble of a collapsed wine and liquor shop in Chandigarh on Monday. — PTI
Police personnel and rescue workers search for victims in the rubble of a collapsed wine and liquor shop in Chandigarh on Monday. — PTI
Six labourers were killed on Monday while two critically injured when a two-storey building caved in during a construction work in its basement here, the police said.
Seventeen people, 12 of which were labourers working in the basement, were inside the building in Transport Nagar area in Sector 26 here at the time of the incident, the police said.
According to fire brigade workers, the labourers had dug deeper than required due to which the roof of the liquor shop collapsed and six people were buried alive.
Two of the injured have been taken to Sector 32 hospital, one is admitted in Sector 16, while the others have been rushed to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Prabhu Nath of Purvanchal Welfare Association said that the compensation should be given to the victims and contractor Jeevan Jindal, who is a resident of SAS Nagar, should be immediately arrested. Mr Nath also urged the Chandigarh administration to make strong policy to avoid such accidents in the future.
Meanwhile, UT inspector general of police RP Upadhyay visited the accident site to take stock of the situation.
The fire brigade workers, police and members from NGO have managed in clearing the debris, police said. A case has been registered against the contractor who was constructing the basement of the building, they added.
Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that 11 labourers were injured in the incident. District magistrate Ajit Balaji Joshi visited the injured in all the hospitals.
The Chandigarh Administration announced a relief between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for the labourers who lost their lives in the incident. Among those who were below 40 years will get Rs 2 lakh, between 40-50 year will get Rs 1.5 lakh and between 50-60 year will receive Rs 1 lakh, the spokesman said.
