Madhya Pradesh Building Collapse: Rescue Efforts Underway as Investigation Begins
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Anuppur, April 5 (NationPress) In a tragic incident, three individuals have been rescued and transported to a medical facility following the collapse of a four-storey building in Madhya Pradesh's Anuppur district on the evening of April 4. Rescue efforts, aimed at finding others who may still be trapped, involve multiple agencies, including the NDRF and local police. An inquiry into the incident has also been launched.
On Saturday, two bodies were recovered from the rubble. The deceased have been identified as Hanuman Yadav (55) and Ramkripal Yadav (50), as per police reports to IANS.
The three survivors are currently being treated at the Shahdol district hospital.
A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, at midnight to assist in the rescue operations, with another NDRF team from Varanasi en route.
"Five individuals have been rescued—two are deceased, and three are receiving medical care. The NDRF-SDRF team and local administration are actively engaged in the rescue efforts," stated Anuppur Collector Harshal Pancholi during an interview with IANS on Sunday.
He added that at least four to five individuals are still feared trapped beneath the debris, prompting ongoing search operations, which also include a dog squad.
Official sources confirmed that a four-member team led by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) K.C. Gupta has arrived at the scene to commence an investigation.
Dilip Ahirwar, the minister responsible for Anuppur district, arrived early Sunday morning after traveling from Chhatarpur, around 500 kilometers away.
The building collapse occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at a hotel near the Kotma bus stand in Anuppur district.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his condolences via a message on his social media account (X) on Saturday.
According to officials, the collapsed building belonged to Lallu Agarwal, a resident of Kotma town, where the incident transpired.
Badri Prasad Tamrakar, vice-president of Anuppur municipality, mentioned that a pit approximately 12 feet deep had been excavated for construction purposes on a plot measuring about 20 by 50 feet next to the collapsed structure. This pit was later filled with water, which compromised the building's foundation.
Additionally, renovation work had been ongoing on the top of the building for several days leading up to the collapse, with tiling and plumbing still in progress at the time of the disaster.