Two people, including a 20-year-old woman from Himachal Pradesh, lost their lives, and several others are feared trapped after a three-storey building collapsed in Mohali, Punjab, on Saturday, according to officials. The collapse occurred while excavation work was being carried out in the basement of an adjacent building.
Drishti Verma, a resident of Theog, was pulled from the rubble in critical condition on Saturday and rushed to Sohana Hospital. Despite efforts, she succumbed to her injuries. On Sunday, another body was discovered under the debris as rescue operations continued.
Officials reported that a gym operated on all three floors of the collapsed building, and seven to eight people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. A case has been filed against the building owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, police confirmed.
“The clearance operations are ongoing. We have filed an FIR under Section 105 of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the building owners, who are currently absconding,” said DSP Harsimran Singh Bal.
Rescue operations are being carried out by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, police, and district administration. Medical teams are also on standby.
The Indian Army reported that several debris clearance machines and earthmovers were deployed at the site. The upper layers of debris have been cleared, and efforts are ongoing to reach the basement.
“The Indian Army reacted swiftly, and in a coordinated effort, Army columns, NDRF, and state rescue teams have been working tirelessly to manage the crisis. Engineer Task Force units with debris clearance machines and JCBs are at the site. Top debris has been cleared, and efforts continue to reach the basement,” tweeted the Army’s Western Command.
Excavators were also used in the operation. A local resident said a loud noise was heard when the building collapsed.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his condolences, tweeting, “Sad news has come in that a multi-storey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has collapsed. The administration and rescue teams are on-site, and I am in constant contact with them. We will take action against the culprits. I urge people to cooperate with the authorities.”
Mohali SSP Deepak Pareek stated, “The operation is ongoing. We cannot yet estimate how many people are trapped. NDRF, police, and fire department teams are on the scene. The cause of the mishap will be investigated.”
Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang and Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh also visited the site to oversee the rescue efforts, with Kulwant Singh calling the incident unfortunate and emphasizing that the rescue operation was fully underway.
