Surat building collapse: Death toll climbs to 7; building owner, son booked

“Seven bodies – all of them aged between 22 and 27 years – have been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building. We have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the provisions of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS),” Jignesh Chaudhari, Sachin GIDC police inspector, told The Indian Express.

The victims have been identified as Hiraman Kevat, Abhishek Kevat, Shahil, Shivpujan Kevat, Parvesh Kevat, Brijesh Gaud and Anmol Shaligram, the police said.

Fire officials said a woman was found below the debris and taken to a hospital for treatment. (Express Photo by Hanif Malek)

According to Chaudhari, the arrested has been identified as Ashwin Vekariya who was collecting rent from the people living in the ‘dangerous’ building.

The Surat Municipal Corporation officials, earlier this year, had given notice to the owners highlighting the poor structure. But neither the owner nor the caretaker repaired or demolished the structure, officials said.

Meanwhile, the fire brigade of Surat Municipal Corporation has said that the 15-hour rescue operations that began around 3.30 pm at D N Nagar society in Paligam on Saturday have been completed.

Basant Pareek, chief fire officer, said that the debris had been cleared. “We have used an imported life detector equipment which detects sounds below the debris. We bought the equipment in 2019. The roads leading to the spot were narrow as a result of which our rescue teams faced a lot of problems”.

Out of the 30 flats in the building, only five to six apartments that were rented out to the textile industry workers from different states were occupied at the time of the accident, as per Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Gehlot.

The dilapidated six-storey building, housing textile workers and their families, collapsed on Saturday afternoon. Following the incident, Gehlot, collector Sourav Pardhi and local elected representatives had rushed to the spot even as various agencies started rescue and relief operations.