New Delhi: Around a dozen people who were trapped after a four-storey residential building collapsed in Lucknow's Hazratganj on Tuesday have been rescued and a search is on for others, officials said, as reported by the news agency PTI. The officials also said that a team of Army personnel also arrived at the spot. Uttar Pradesh DGP D S Chauhan, who was at the site said that the rescue work is being carried out in a scientific way. He further reassured that those who are trapped under the debris will be saved.
"Five people are still stuck under the debris and proper oxygen is being supplied to them. They are in the same room. We are in contact with two people. Nobody has been arrested yet, a proper investigation will be done," DS Chauhan quoted as reported by ANI.
"Around 12 people have been rescued. This is the hour of patience, not the time to rush because when you are cutting a building, it should not create any other problem. Rescue work is being carried out in a very scientific way, and I am confident that those who are trapped inside (under the debris) will be saved," Uttar Pradesh DGP D S Chauhan, who was at the site was quoted by PTI as saying
Answering a query about what may have caused the collapse, Chauhan said, "The reasons will be known when the experts and the police carry out their investigations. As of now, as per our assumption, which is based on feedback from family members, around five-seven people are still inside (the debris)," as quoted by PTI. He further said that the rescue operations will continue for another 12 hours.
District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar said NDRF and SDRF teams are engaged in rescue operations. "So far, 11 people have been rescued, and five more are possibly trapped. As per the clues obtained from the site of the collapse, the NDRF and SDRF teams are cutting the walls, and after cutting the walls, (trapped) people will be rescued."
"Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is keeping a watch on the rescue operations. The defence minister has also given instructions. An Army team has arrived here for rescue work," he added.
Asked if the building collapse may have been caused by an earthquake earlier in the day, he said, "This is not the right time to deliberate on the reasons. At present, the rescue operation is going on." He added that contact has been established with two people who are trapped under the debris and an oxygen supply has been arranged for them, as reported by PTI.
"All the people who have been rescued are safe and under stable treatment. Seven rescued people were sent to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Civil Hospital," a police official said at the spot of the incident.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who earlier talked about the death of three people in the incident, retracted his comment. Talking to PTI, he said there were initial reports of three people in an unconscious condition and were feared dead.
"But now information is coming that nobody is dead. Those rescued from the building have been moved to hospitals," Pathak said, as quoted by PTI.
"The rescue operation is going on. NDRF-SDRF personnel have arrived at the spot. Police jawans and fire brigade personnel have also arrived," he said. The Lucknow DM said local people informed the authorities that some work was going on in the basement of the building.
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted the remote mountainous districts in western Nepal on Tuesday, killing one person and damaging dozens of houses in the region, Nepalese officials said.
The hospitals have been directed to stay alert. The four-storey building had around 12 flats, out of which nine had occupants. Many senior civil and police officials, including Principal Secretary to the chief minister Sanjay Prasad and DGP D S Chauhan, are on the spot, Pathak further said as reported by PTI.