Lagatar24 Desk
Lucknow: The death toll from the devastating building collapse in Lucknow’s Transport Nagar rose to eight after rescuers recovered three more bodies on Sunday morning. A total of 28 people have been injured in the incident, with rescue operations still underway.
The building, known as the ‘Harmilap Building,’ housed godowns, a motor workshop, and a pharmaceutical warehouse. The collapse occurred around 5 pm on Saturday, causing widespread damage and trapping workers under the debris.
According to Relief Commissioner G S Naveen, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) recovered the bodies of Raj Kishore (27), Rudra Yadav (24), and Jagrup Singh (35) from the rubble. Rescue teams are now focusing on ensuring that no one else remains trapped beneath the debris.
What Happened?
The Harmilap Building, which collapsed, was being used as a warehouse and motor workshop. The structure, built approximately four years ago, was reportedly undergoing some construction work at the time of the incident. Most of the victims were working on the ground floor when the collapse occurred.
Akash Singh, one of the injured workers, described the moments leading up to the collapse. “We had come down to the ground floor because it was raining. We noticed that a crack had developed in a pillar of the building. Suddenly, the entire structure collapsed on us,” he said.
Those injured in the collapse have been transported to nearby hospitals, including Lok Bandhu Hospital, for treatment.
Government Response
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed district officials to expedite relief and rescue efforts. “The Chief Minister has taken cognizance of the building collapse in Transport Nagar, Lucknow. He has directed SDRF and NDRF teams to ensure the injured are immediately taken to the hospital and given proper medical care,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated in a post on X.
Defence Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh, also expressed his grief over the tragedy. “The news of the building collapse in Lucknow is extremely painful. I have spoken to the District Magistrate to assess the situation, and the local administration is working on rescue efforts to assist the victims,” Singh said on X.
The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, with officials focusing on potential structural issues. As rescue operations continue, authorities are working to clear the rubble and provide aid to affected families.