Mohali: Rescue operations continued on Sunday morning following the collapse of a six-storey under-construction building in Punjab’s Mohali on Saturday. The incident claimed the life of one person, and many others are feared to be trapped under the debris.
The accident took place when a building, housing a gym, suddenly collapsed. At the time of the collapse, over 15 people were reportedly inside the gym.
What caused the building to collapse?
Authorities suspect that excavation work in the basement may have weakened the building’s foundation, causing it to collapse.
The collapse happened so abruptly that people inside the gym did not have time to escape. Rescue teams, including personnel from the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), arrived promptly and began clearing the debris.
DC Ashika Jain said that the building was around 10 years old, and the exact cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. However, preliminary investigations suggest that the foundation might have slipped due to ongoing excavation work near the building.
Rescue operation underway
The fire brigade and police were the first to reach the site, followed by the NDRF and SDRF teams. Heavy machinery like JCBs is being used to clear the rubble. The district officials, including Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ashika Jain and Superintendent of Police (SP), oversaw the rescue operations.
Late on Saturday night, the body of a woman was recovered from the debris, but it remains unclear how many people are still trapped. Local authorities are working to contact the gym managers to determine the exact number of people present at the time of the collapse.
Efforts are underway to identify the victims and rescue any survivors.
