Over dozen people were killed and more than 30 injured after an under-construction building in Kanpur’s Jajmau area collapsed on Wednesday.
Around three people have been rescued from the debris and were rushed to Kanshi Ram Memorial Trauma Centre for treatment. They said to be in a critical condition.
Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been called in to assist in the rescue operation. Police and fire department officials are also at the spot.
“Around 30 to 40 people are still trapped at the site. The army and NDRF have been called in. A team of experts will be set for investigation of the building collapsed in Kanpur’s Jajmau. Rescue operations are underway,” Kanpur District Magistrate Kaushal Raj said.
According to the officials present on the spot, labourers were working on the sixth floor when the incident happened. While a dozen people were already rescued, efforts are being taken to rescue those still under the debris. NDRF and Army personnel are jointly carrying out the rescue operation and JCB machines have been deployed for the same.
The city hospitals have been put on alert and the injured are being given immediate treatment, said Kanpur DM adding that over a dozen ambulances were pressed into action to ferry those injured in the incident. As per the sources, the magnitude of the accident was so huge that the adjoined building too showed signs of extensive damage.
According to Kanpur SSP Akash Kulhari, sub-standard building material was allegedly used in the construction of the building. The collapsed building is believed to be owned by a local Samajwadi Party leader Mehtab Alam who was getting it constructed to open a tannery.
