Video Producer: Shohini Bose
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Two people were killed and one was rescued on Friday, 11 February, after the roof of a Gurugram high-rise building collapsed on the evening of Thursday, 10 February.
The deceased have been identified as Sunita Srivastava, whose body was recovered on Friday, while resident Ekta Bhardwaj had died on Thursday night, reported PTI. The former's husband, Arun Kumar Srivastava, had been evacuated from the debris and rushed to the hospital, PTI reported, citing officials.
Gurugram DC Nishant Yadav had informed on Friday that a total of three people had been trapped under the debris.
The accident took place at the Chintels Paradiso housing complex in Gurugram's Sector 109, at around 6 pm. The living room floor of a sixth-floor apartment had come down, triggering the caving in of the roofs and the floors directly under it, as per reports.
Realty firm Chintels India has said that the company is cooperating with local authorities on the "unfortunate" incident and would conduct a structural audit of the project.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had reached the site late on Thursday to conduct the rescue operations, which are ongoing.
"A total of three people were trapped, out of which the body of a woman was recovered yesterday. Today, we've rescued one more person and he is fine and admitted to a hospital. We're looking for the third person. We suspect that she'll not survive," Gurugram DC Nishant Yadav was quoted as saying by ANI.
"We inquired about the incident from the local authorities. For detailed investigation, we have constituted a committee which will be headed by the Additional District Magistrate of Gurugram and asked him to submit the report within a week's time," he added.
Meanwhile, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said:
"An FIR has been registered in the case. Two DSPs (Deputy Superintendent of Police) will investigate the matter. Will not spare the culprit."
Earlier in the day, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official PK Tiwary informed that over 100 NDRF personnel were carrying out the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar took to social media on Thursday night and said:
"Administrative officials, along with SDRF and NDRF teams are busy in the rescue and relief work after the unfortunate collapse of the apartment roof at the Paradiso Housing Complex in Gurugram. I am personally monitoring the situation and I pray for everyone's safety."
Earth-moving machines and a fire brigade with an elevated platform were deployed for the rescue operations, news agency PTI reported.
"The number of people trapped in the building's debris is yet to be ascertained but we suspect that around 5-6 could be trapped," Deputy Director Fire Department Gulshan Kalra had told news agency IANS.
FIR Filed Against Builder for 'Death by Negligence'
On the complaint of the deceased's husband, Rajesh Bhardwaj, the police has filed an FIR against MD of Chintels, Ashok Solomon, under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It was alleged in the complaint that the fatality was caused by negligent and substandard construction work.
"In connection with the incident, an FIR has been registered and further probe is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Deepak Saharan was quoted as saying by IANS.
The sixth floor of the 'D' tower of the complex has been ascertained as the point of the initial collapse. Some of the floors of the building that suffered damage are said to be unoccupied by residents. The housing complex management blamed the disaster on negligence during repairs.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and IANS.)
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