Two people were killed, and about 10 others are feared trapped after a multi-story building collapsed Saturday evening in the Sohana area of Mohali, Punjab.
The Army and NDRF teams are assisting local authorities in rescue efforts. The second body was recovered Sunday morning.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mohali DC Aashika Jain said that the first body of a woman was rescued from under the debris late Saturday but her identity was unknown. A gym and a paying guest facility was being run from the building, Jain said, adding that the number of people buried under the debris couldn’t be confirmed at the given moment. “Our exclusive focus is on rescue operation,” she added.
The district administration has established a control room, and Civil Hospital Mohali, Fortis, Max, and Sohana Hospital have been placed on alert. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party MP Malwinder Singh Kang visited the site to oversee the ongoing rescue operations.
DGP Yadav emphasised that the immediate focus is on saving lives. “Our priority is to save as many as we can. The causes that led to this incident are being investigated and action shall be taken against those responsible, but the priority is to save lives,” he told reporters.
AAP MP Kang reiterated that the district administration and rescue teams are concentrating on locating anyone who might still be trapped under the debris.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his condolences and assured swift action against those responsible. “Sad news has been received that a multistorey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has collapsed. The entire administration and other rescue teams have been deployed at the spot. I am in constant touch with the administration,” he wrote on X.
“We pray that there is no loss of life, we will also take action against the culprits. Appeal to the people to cooperate with the administration,” he added.