A five-story building collapsed in Gujarat’s Surat on Saturday with many feared trapped under the debris, officials said.
The incident took place in Surat’s Sachin GIDC area. Police and fire department teams have arrived at the stop and rescue operations are underway.
The building that suddenly collapsed housed a family who were living there as tenants. Currently, police and fire personnel are actively clearing the debris at the site. A woman has been rescued safely from the rubble.
According to initial inputs, the dilapidated building, which was built in 2017, collapsed in Pali village in the Sachin GIDC area. 10 to 15 people residing in the building are feared trapped.
Several senior police officials and leaders, including Deputy Mayor Narendra Patil, have arrived at the spot and are monitoring the rescue operations.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said that the building had 30 flats and five to six families resided in it.
“Five minutes after the building collapsed, the police were informed. Senior officials and a rescue team reached the site. It was a 30-flat scheme. 5 to 6 families lived there. The fire brigade team rescued a woman from the debris. A watchman said that many people were inside the building when it collapsed,” Gehlot said.
Gehlot, who arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue operation, confirmed that the voices of trapped persons were heard at the beginning of the rescue efforts.
“When rescue work started, we heard voices of those who were trapped inside. We rescued a woman alive from the rubble and sent her to the hospital. We suspect that nearly five people are still trapped inside,” he said.
“The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is on its way. Action will be taken against anyone found to be negligent during the investigation,” he added.