Bhopal/Kotma, April 5 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, has declared financial aid for the families affected by the tragic building collapse in Kotma. This aid comprises Rs four lakh from the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Fund, Rs four lakh under the Sambal Scheme, and Rs one lakh from the Red Cross.

Injured individuals will receive Rs two lakh from the discretionary fund along with Rs 50,000 from the Red Cross.

“The state government expresses its support to the grieving families. We offer prayers for the souls who have departed and wish for a swift recovery for those injured,” stated the Chief Minister.

Minister Dilip Ahirwar, along with District Magistrate Harshal Pancholi and Superintendent of Police Moti-ur-Rehman, is overseeing the ongoing operations at the site.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities are actively engaged in rescue efforts in the busy bus stand area, where fear still prevails among locals and travelers.

Kotma, located in Anuppur district, faced a devastating incident on Saturday evening when a four-storey building, known as Agarwal Lodge, collapsed near the bus stand. The calamity struck between 5.30 and 5.50 p.m., causing widespread alarm as witnesses recounted the deafening sound of an explosion, followed by clouds of dust enveloping the vicinity.

Rescue personnel arrived promptly, laboring through the night with cranes and heavy machinery to rescue those trapped under the debris. By Sunday morning, the death toll reached three after the body of a woman was found around 11 a.m. Her identity remains unverified.

Two other victims, believed to be relatives, were rescued earlier. At least five individuals have been saved so far; three have tragically lost their lives, while the remaining survivors are receiving medical care.

Officials are concerned that additional victims may still be trapped, with estimates suggesting between six and ten individuals.

Local residents pointed to a significant pit dug at a nearby construction site as a likely cause of the collapse. This pit, measuring nearly 12 feet deep, had filled with water, potentially undermining the foundation of the ten-year-old lodge.

Authorities have acknowledged that ongoing construction activities in the vicinity might have played a role in this disaster.

A comprehensive investigation has been initiated to determine the exact causes and to identify any safety violations.