Greater Noida buildings collapse: Dead toll reaches 9, many still trapped

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NDRF workers have recovered nine bodies including two women and an 18-month-old child
NDRF workers have recovered nine bodies including two women and an 18-month-old child

New Delhi : It’s more than 24 hours of the collapse of twin buildings in Shahberi in Greater Noida. Yet, there is no proper information over the number of people trapped under the debris. Till now, 9 dead bodies have been recovered and the rescue operation is on progress. 

Till Wednesday evening, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) workers have recovered nine bodies including that of two women and an 18-month-old child during the search operations. The families and neighbours argue that there are four to six people still trapped under the debris.

Cops in-charge have held 24 people for culpable homicide and other charges and arrested developer Ganga Shankar Dwivedi and three brokers, Sanjeev Kumar, Dinesh and Sonu Pathak.

4 NDRF teams comprising 40 members have been deployed each at the building collapse site where they did combing and search operations since Tuesday night after reaching the spot at 11pm. They are continuing the rescue and debris removal process with the help of dog squad and life detector machines.

The collapsed two six-storey building stood parallel to each other with a five feet road between them. Officials said, possibly the sub-standard materials and weak foundation led to the massive collapse.

“It seems the building’s one floor sank and the five floors collapsed. The collapse was so severe that the roofs are layered upon and walls destroyed,” said an official of the district administration.

ADG Prashant Kumar and inspector general Ram Kumar of Meerut also visited the spot on Wednesday. 

Prashant Kumar said that the rubble is huge and the rescue works will be done by Thursday morning. 

“We are investigating if the developer had received NOC from the concerned authority. Prima facie we have found massive irregularities in the construction of this apartment. We will initiate stringent action against the persons involved in this incident,” Kumar said.