Greater Noida building collapse: Several people buried, nine bodies recovered

Two buildings with one being under construction-collapsed in Shahberi Village in Greater Noida Tuesday night leaving nine people dead. Eyewitnesses say that a four-storey building, comprising at least 25 flats, fell on a six storey under construction building around 8.45 pm. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

NDRF teams are present at the spot and search and rescue operation is underway. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

NDRF has recovered nine bodies so far and four people have been arrested including the land owner. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Chief Fire Officer Arun Kumar Singh was quoted as saying that at least 12 labourers were inside the building at the time of the incident and all of them are suspected to be trapped. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Drills are being used to remove metal rods to reach those trapped under the debris and a dog squad has also been pressed into service. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Those involved in the rescue operations were facing difficulties because of the narrow lanes in the area and a huge crowd that had gathered there, an official was quoted as saying by PTI. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The identity of the bodies have not been established yet. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Dog squad has also been deployed at the building collapse spot in Greater Noida's Shah Beri village. (Express Photo by Ganjendra Yadav)

“This incident has scared us…I own a flat and I bought it for Rs 29 lakh a year back…I dont know if my building is safe. There should be a safety audit done by the authorities,” said an eyewitness. (Express Photo by Nishant Shekhar)

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma reached collapse site and informed that Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Aditynath will order a probe into the matter. (Express Photo by Nishant Shekhar)

Local sources estimated that a total of 10-12 families were living in one of the buildings. The death toll is likely to rise on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Nishant Shekhar)

NDRF has deployed teams with gas cutters to remove the debris and penetrate the walls and retrieve bodies. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)'

“Our first priority is to search for any alive person inside the debris, but the pattern in very unstable. There are chances of further collapse. Initially we sent a sniffer dog and we were able to get two bodies out…Now our workers are looking at it manually,” NDRF commandant said. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

“I held my wife and asked her to run as I thought my buiding was going to collapse. However, when I rushed out it was dust all over and two buildings opposite my house were collapsing slowly,” said Mintoo Dekha, a local resident. (Express Photo by Nishant Shekhar)

"Locals have told us that the building that collapsed was constructed two years ago and many flats in it were not occupied. An investigation will be carried out in this matter," Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate, BN Singh was quoted as saying by ANI. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)'

'As of now we don't know what is the extent of damage, it is too early to say anything in that regard. Our motive right now is to save any life that is left. Rescue operations by NDRF are underway, said Kumar Vineet, ADM, Gautam Budh Nagar. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

NDRF Commandant P K Srivastav informed The Indian Express that heavy machinery is being used to remove the debris and search for the trapped bodies and look for survivors. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Police authorites also sent sniffer dogs to locate the bodies buried under the rubble. (Express Photo by Nishant Shekhar)