A massive rescue operation is underway after an apartment ceiling collapsed, leading to the death of two people in Gurugram, a city in the Indian state of Haryana, on Thursday night. Several others are still feared to be trapped under the debris and a rescue operation is ongoing.
Visuals of the disaster have surfaced on the internet showcasing the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams carrying out the rescue operation along with their sniffer dogs.
Roof collapse in Gurugram
© Photo : Twitter/ @Ani
Police have filed a case against the builder and the construction company, and have started a probe.
Gurugram’s Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav initially said: “A total of three are [stuck inside], of which one woman from the first floor is dead. We have recovered her body. The other two women on the second floor have still not been seen. The man on the same floor is trapped."
Citing reasons of negligence and poor quality construction, residents are blaming the builder and demanding strict action against him. However, the builders, in their official statement, have held that the renovation contractor is responsible.
“This is an extremely unfortunate incident and we have taken it very seriously as safety of our residents is of utmost concern. Upon preliminary investigation, we have come to know that some negligence in repair work done by contractor in the apartment led to the incident. We are cooperating with authorities and ensuring all support,” the statement by Chintels Paradiso reads.
Haryana State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted that he is personally monitoring the rescue operation.
Haryana State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar
© Photo : Twitter/ @mlkhattar