What Happened in Ahmedabad? 20 Residents Trapped as Gallery Collapses
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred in the Sant Vinobabhave Nagar slum located in the Amraiwadi area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where a gallery collapsed on Wednesday. This unfortunate event trapped nearly 20 residents within their homes, triggering a significant rescue operation led by the city's fire brigade.
The collapse happened in Block 12 of the residential slum, causing considerable panic among the local populace.
Emergency responders acted swiftly, deploying numerous fire tenders and ladders to assist those who were stranded.
The Gomtipur fire brigade spearheaded the evacuation efforts, with invaluable support from the Ahmedabad police and the estate department of the Municipal Corporation (East Zone).
As per officials, approximately 8-10 residents have been successfully rescued thus far. Seven individuals suffered from minor to moderate injuries and received prompt medical care.
Fortunately, authorities have confirmed that there have been no fatalities reported. The evacuation efforts to rescue the remaining residents are still ongoing.
A fire brigade officer stated, "Upon receiving the call, we immediately rushed to the location. Our teams are dedicated to ensuring the safe evacuation of all residents. Rescue operations are currently in progress, and we are committed to leaving no one behind."
Residents have voiced their concerns regarding the structural integrity of older buildings in the vicinity. One resident remarked, "We have resided here for many years, and cracks had been visible in the gallery for quite some time. We were fortunate that no lives were lost today."
This collapse follows a similar incident in the city’s historic walled area on January 29, where a house fell during adjacent drainage repairs, trapping three individuals under the rubble.
Emergency crews rescued these victims; however, 62-year-old Pushpaben Panchal succumbed to her injuries during treatment at Civil Hospital.
Local MLA Kaushik Jain has raised concerns regarding the age and condition of many houses in the area, urging the Municipal Corporation to expedite repairs and address disputes between landlords and tenants that obstruct necessary maintenance.