Varanasi News: Several people are feared trapped as two houses collapsed in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi near the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple. Rescue and search operations are underway as around eight people are believed to be trapped under the debris.
Five people have been rescued safely who have been rushed to a hospital, authorities told PTI and according to local people, both the houses were more than 70 years old.
As per the report, quoting police sources, the incident took place in Khoya Gali of Chowk area, where two old houses built near Kashi Vishwanath Temple suddenly collapsed and at least eight people were buried under the debris.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team rescued five people safely from the debris and took them to the hospital.
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal told ANI that the rescue operation is about to end after all the people trapped in the debris were pulled out safely.
A woman constable who was deployed on duty was injured and has been sent to BHU Trauma Centre where she is out of danger.
"A woman admitted at Kabir Chaura Hospital has been declared dead in a hospital. Our priority is to carry out rescue operations and help the injured"
"Two houses collapsed here in which 9 people were trapped. 2 of them came out on their own and 7 others were rescued," said Kaushal Raj Sharma, Commissioner Varanasi Division.
"The rescue operation is almost over. Our next priority is to clean the debris and restore the supply of water and electricity in the houses...The upper floor of the house has collapsed and the people on those floors were trapped...," he added.