One person’s body was found in the Mohali building collapse, the death toll rose to two

Rescue operations continue after a multi-storied building collapsed in Sohana village in Punjab’s Mohali district on Saturday evening, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least two people have died in this incident and many people are suspected to be trapped in the debris. to the authorities. | Photo credit: PTI

The death toll in the Mohali building collapse has risen to two after the body of a man was recovered from the rubble on Sunday (December 22, 2024), officials said.

At least five people were trapped in the debris when a multi-storey building collapsed in Sohana village of Punjab’s Mohali district on Saturday (December 21) evening.

A man’s body was recovered during the ongoing rescue operation, Mohali Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Damandeep Kaur said in an official statement.

The statement mentions that the deceased is being identified.

Earlier, a 20-year-old girl died in an incident that took place on Saturday evening. A woman from Himachal Pradesh died while being rescued from the rubble of a building. He was rescued from the wreckage in critical condition and taken to the hospital, but he died during treatment.

Rescue operations continued through the night. The police arrested two building owners in the incident.

Several excavators have been pressed into service as part of the rescue operation.

National Disaster Response Team (NDRF), Army, state rescue teams are working since Saturday evening to tackle the crisis. A medical team including an ambulance has also been deployed at the scene since Saturday evening.

As operations continue at the spot, necessary equipment and machinery have been provided to the rescuers, apart from those brought by the NDRF and the Army.

Earlier, a local said that there was a loud noise when the building collapsed. Preliminary information shows that the building, which also has a gym, collapsed due to digging in the adjacent plot.

“Indian Army responded swiftly to the rescue. In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, #IndianArmy columns along with #NDRF and state rescue teams are working tirelessly to tackle the crisis.

“An engineer task force with debris clearance machines and JCBs is on the spot. The top debris has been removed and efforts are on to reach the basement,” the Indian Army’s Western Command said in a post on X.

After Saturday’s incident, all major hospitals in Mohali, such as Civil Hospital (attached to the Medical College), Fortis, Max and Sohana, were put on alert to treat the injured.

Inspector General of Police Gaurav Yadav, who reached the spot on Saturday, said rescue efforts are being made by various agencies.