A ceiling slab of an under construction building collapsed in Kannauj railway station on Saturday, January 11, in Uttar Pradesh leaving nearly 10 people trapped. Rescue operations have begun and six people have been removed from the debris so far.
Several workers and railway staff are feared to be trapped, early reports suggest.
Initial visuals from the site showed scenes of chaos and confusion with crowds, clouds of dust and broken beams as people tried to rescue those who had been trapped.
“According to preliminary information, the incident occurred when the under-construction shuttering of the roof collapsed,” said District Magistrate (DM) Shubhrant Kumar Shukl.
“Our first priority is to rescue the workers who are trapped. We are using all resources at our disposal for the rescue efforts,” Shukl, who had rushed to the spot along with other senior officials to oversee the rescue operation, added.
Roof shuttering is a temporary structure that supports concrete while it sets.
A shaken Mahesh Kumar, among those at the site, recalled his narrow escape.
“As soon as the concrete was poured over the shuttering, it suddenly collapsed. Everyone on it fell. I was standing at the edge and managed to escape,” he said.
Taking cognisance of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to ensure safe recovery of those trapped inside and their proper medical treatment.
State Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami is in touch with the Kannauj district administration for all possible help in relief work, state government officials said.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed at the site where frantic efforts are underway to rescue the workers. Ambulances have been kept on standby to provide first aid and take the injured to hospital.
The emergency ward at the district hospital is on alert and doctors have been put on standby, officials said.
Compensation announced
Meanwhile, the North Eastern Railway chief public relation officer (CPRO) Pankaj Singh announced a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each for the critically injured and Rs 50,000 each for those who sustained minor injuries in the incident. A probe has been also ordered.
(With PTI inputs)
