Gujarat: 4 killed in Junagadh building collapse
The collapse of the house comes two days after the city was hit by a flash flood, one of the worst in decades, triggered by torrential rain. The rescue operation went on till late night to look for more survivors.
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Rescue operation in progress after building collapse in Junagadh on Monday. (Express Photo) An autorickshaw driver and his two sons were among four killed as a three-storey building collapsed at the Junagadh city’s Datar Road Monday noon. A massive rescue operation was launched soon after the collapse as a joint team of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the fire brigade made desperate efforts to look for survivors. The collapse of the house comes two days after the city was hit by a flash flood, one of the worst in decades, triggered by torrential rain. The rescue operation went on till late night to look for more survivors.
Four bodies were pulled out by rescuers on Monday evening from the debris. “We have pulled out the bodies of two boys and two men. We are told that one of the men is the father of the two boys,” Dipankar Jani, Chief Fire Officer of Junagadh, told The Indian Express. According to eyewitnesses, at the time of the incident, an autorickshaw driver was out with his wife, son, and nephew. The woman went to the corner of the road to purchase vegetables after her husband parked the vehicle near the building. While the driver and two boys waited inside the autorickshaw for the woman to return, the house collapsed suddenly, burying them alive with the vehicle.
The four victims have been identified as Sanjay Dabhi (33), his two sons Tarun (13) and Daksh (7), and Subhash Tanna (52).
CM Bhupendra Patel called the tragedy a “very sad incident” and said he was praying for peace of the soul of those who have died. He further said that the state government will pay Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the victims.
The deputy mayor said that rescuers were using heavy machinery to clear the debris and look for survivors. (Express Photo)
On massive operations, Girish Kotecha, Deputy Mayor of Junagadh, said rescuers deployed heavy machinery to clear the debris and look for survivors. “At least 500 people joined rescue operations, including NDRF rescuers. They used JCBs, and earthmovers to clear debris and rescue people,” said Kotecha. “The building collapsed around noon and its debris fell on the road. At least six to seven persons who were living in the building, as well as a few people standing on the road near the building, were feared to be trapped under the rubble,” he added.
Junagadh Mayor Gita Parmar said that an autorickshaw ferrying some school students was feared trapped under the debris of the house. “Besides residents of the building, an autorickshaw ferrying some children was feared to be under the debris. There was also a soft drink shop downstairs and a few people who were at the shop also got caught in the tragedy.”
The Mayor also said the building in the Kadiyavad area on Datar Road was in a dilapidated condition. “It was an old building which was in a dilapidated condition. The Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC) had deemed it dangerous and served residents a notice to vacate it. However, they ignored our warning,” said Parmar.
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