Ambala (Balwinder Singh): The death toll in the collapse of an under-construction building in Ambala rose to six on Monday after rescue personnel pulled two more bodies from the rubble, bringing the search operation to an end.
The three-storey structure came down in the Dhulkot area of Ambala City on Sunday afternoon while construction work was underway on the third floor. Officials said the building collapsed as workers were engaged in laying the lintel.
An estimated 35 to 40 labourers were present at the site when the structure suddenly gave way, trapping several workers beneath the debris. Those who were rescued injured were taken to Civil Hospital, Ambala City, for treatment.
The deceased have been identified as Rajinder Kumar, 50, from Sonta village in Ambala district; Kalia Ram, 48, originally from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh and residing in Mandor village; Shastri Ram, 50, from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh and living in Garnala village; Roop Singh, 55, from Dangdera village near Lalru in Punjab; Malkit Singh of Punjab; and Ramji Das, a resident of Ambala.
The incident has raised questions over construction and safety arrangements at the site. Officials said the district administration would constitute a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse. The building has also been described as unauthorised.
With the rescue operation completed, attention has now shifted towards determining how the structure collapsed and whether required construction and safety norms were followed.
Meanwhile, relatives of those who died have sought criminal action against the owner of the building. The families have demanded that an FIR be registered, alleging that responsibility for the tragedy should be established through a formal investigation.
Congress MP Varun Chaudhry, Ambala City MLA Nirmal Singh and other party leaders visited the injured workers and met the families of those who lost their lives. They took stock of the situation and interacted with those affected by the incident.
The administration’s proposed inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances under which construction was being carried out, the status of the building and whether safety requirements were being followed at the site.
The collapse has left six families mourning while raising renewed concerns over the safety of workers employed at construction sites where large numbers of labourers are involved in ongoing structural work.
