Five individuals have been saved, while two others are possibly stuck following the collapse of a two-storey old building in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area Phase-2. The incident led to the mobilization of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in addition to police and fire brigade teams.
This marks the second building collapse in Chandigarh within a day. Rescue operations are ongoing, with efforts concentrated on freeing the two individuals trapped under the debris, as confirmed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (South) Gurjit Kaur. The building in question was reportedly utilized by a scrap dealer.
Upon receiving the alert, fire and emergency services teams swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated a well-coordinated rescue operation alongside local police and municipal authorities. Sniffer dogs have been deployed to aid in locating any potential survivors beneath the wreckage. Ambulances are on standby at the site to offer immediate medical aid to those rescued.
The previous day saw the roof of the auditorium at Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET) in Sector 26 collapse. Fortunately, no individuals were present inside the auditorium during the incident. The auditorium, a crucial government facility where vote counting occurs during elections, had been deemed unsafe by the Engineering Department and remained unoccupied after assessment. Structural safety audits were conducted, with further advice sought from Punjab Engineering College (PEC) to ensure stability and safety.
Concerns have been raised by residents and business owners in the vicinity regarding the deteriorating state of numerous structures, many of which were erected decades ago without proper maintenance or periodic structural evaluations.
