A two-storey building collapsed in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area Phase-II on Saturday, trapping several people under the debris and triggering a massive rescue operation by the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other emergency teams.
The incident occurred at Plot No. 28/9 near Hotel The Fern, where a scrap-related business was reportedly operating. Police and rescue personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information about the collapse and launched efforts to search for those feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Officials said five people were pulled out of the debris during the initial rescue operation. However, the exact number of people trapped inside the building remained unclear.
Ramesh, one of the survivors rescued from the site, claimed that around 20 to 25 people were inside the building when it suddenly collapsed at around 4.20 pm. “It felt like an earthquake. Within moments, the entire building came crashing down, and everyone inside was trapped,” he said.
To facilitate the rescue, NDRF personnel, assisted by heavy machinery, began removing concrete slabs and debris in a phased manner. Rescue teams first lifted portions of the collapsed roof using excavators to allow air to reach those who might still be trapped underneath.
According to officials associated with the rescue operation, information available so far suggests that at least two persons, including the building owner and a worker, could still be trapped under the debris. The search operation was continuing till the filing of this report.
Superintendent of Police Chawla said the structure was an old building and preliminary information suggested that the roof may have collapsed due to the deteriorated condition of the property. Authorities said the persons believed to be trapped were working on the first floor when the building gave way.
The incident comes a day after another structural collapse in the city. On July 3, the roof of the old multipurpose hall at Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET) collapsed during rainfall. No casualties were reported in that incident as the building had already been declared unsafe and vacated.
Officials said the cause of the latest collapse would be investigated after the rescue operation is completed. Meanwhile, police and disaster response teams continued to clear the debris in an effort to locate anyone still trapped inside.