Punjab Building Collapse: 23-Hour Rescue Effort Concludes, Two Confirmed Deceased
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Chandigarh, Dec 22 (NationPress) A tragic incident unfolded as two individuals were confirmed deceased following a marathon 23-hour rescue effort conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and local civil authorities. The operation aimed to find those trapped in a collapsed four-storey structure located in Mohali, Punjab, and concluded on Sunday.
The remains of a male victim were recovered today, identified by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Damandeep Kaur as Abhishek Dhanwal from Ambala in Haryana. Earlier, the body of a 20-year-old woman, Drishti Verma from Himachal Pradesh, was also found at the site.
According to Officiating Deputy Commissioner Viraj S. Tidke and Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek, the search and rescue operation gained momentum after a critically injured female was successfully retrieved from the rubble.
The operation persisted overnight until 4:30 PM on Sunday, when the NDRF confirmed that no further survivors could be expected from beneath the debris.
Tidke stated that the rubble had been meticulously examined by the NDRF prior to concluding the operation.
In total, approximately 600 personnel from the NDRF, Army, and police participated in the continuous operation, including around 140 NDRF team members, 167 from the Army's 57 Engineers Regiment, and over 300 local police officers, along with other allied departments.
Essential machinery was provided to the NDRF to assist in their efforts during the operation.
A magisterial inquiry has been initiated to ascertain accountability concerning the incident, with SDM Damandeep Kaur assigned to conduct the investigation and submit findings within three weeks.
The entire rescue process was overseen by district civil and police officials until it concluded. Notable officials present at the scene included Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, and Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav Bains.
Officials reported that individuals were trapped when a gymnasium's structure collapsed due to excavation work in the basement of a neighboring building located in Sector 77.
Authorities have charged and arrested the building's owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, with culpable homicide.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann engaged with district authorities regarding the ongoing rescue efforts, urging them to utilize all available resources to assist the victims. Additionally, Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang and local MLA Kulwant Singh were present at the site on Saturday to oversee the rescue operations.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav also monitored the rescue efforts, instructing local police to prioritize the safety of the victims at all costs.
