Chandigarh, July 5: Two individuals lost their lives and three others were successfully extracted from the rubble after a two-storey commercial building collapsed in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area, Phase II, on Saturday evening. A massive search and rescue operation, spanning nearly five-and-a-half hours, was initiated immediately following the structural failure to locate five workers who had become trapped beneath the heavy debris. Emergency response teams, including the local police, administrative authorities, fire brigade personnel, and the National Disaster Response Force, converged on the site to clear the wreckage.
Medical officials at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 confirmed that the two fatalities were deceased upon arrival at the facility. The three survivors were transported to the same hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries sustained during the cave-in. Investigations indicate that the structural collapse occurred at Plot Number 28/9, a property located near Hotel The Fern, where renovation activities were actively underway at the time.
“Three people who were trapped inside have been safely rescued; they sustained minor injuries, have been hospitalised, and have received medical aid,” Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi stated during the initial hours of the crisis. He affirmed that emergency teams utilized specialised heavy machinery to lift fallen concrete slabs and reach the victims. Reflecting on safety protocols, the Mayor maintained that the administration ought to restrict structural modifications during vulnerable weather seasons.
The affected property reportedly housed a commercial venture prior to the incident, drawing multiple workers to the premises. Representatives from local trade bodies noted that the building was being modified to accommodate new occupants.
“We learned that a co-working space operated inside on a rental basis, so labourers were engaged there as well,” MPS Chawla, President of the Chandigarh Industrial Association, declared. He asserted that weather conditions did not appear to be the catalyst for the disaster. “This incident likely occurred due to structural deficiencies. It hasn’t even been raining. We will know more once the official report is out.”
Political leaders across party lines monitored the situation as the multi-agency operation concluded late into the night. Former Union Minister and Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal declared that all response teams were dedicating every possible resource to the rescue efforts, extending his thoughts to the families affected by the tragedy.
