At least three persons were killed and several others trapped under the debris as two adjacent buildings collapsed in Greater Noida, officials said today.
A six-storey under-construction building fell on an adjacent building in Shah Beri village under the Bisrakh police station last night. The second building also collapsed under the impact.
At least 12 labourers were in the under-construction building on the outskirts of Delhi when the incident took place and all of them were feared trapped, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Arun Kumar Singh said.
Two bodies were pulled out of the rubble late last night, while another body was pulled out this morning, he added as the rescue operations continued into the day.
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.
A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the incident, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said.
Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, Ram Kumar said the owner of the land, Gangashankar Dwivedi, and two others -- Dinesh and Sanjay -- were arrested.
Taking note of the incident, Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate (DM) Brajesh Narayan Singh ordered a probe, seeking a report within 15 days.
"A magisterial probe has been ordered into the reasons behind the incident. Additional District Magistrate (administration) Kumar Vineet has been asked to carry out the probe. He will submit his report within 15 days," the order said.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were assisting the police personnel and fire-fighters in the rescue operations, the CFO said.
Those involved in the rescue operations were facing difficulties because of the narrow lanes in the area and a huge crowd that had gathered there, he added.
Drills are being used to remove metal rods to reach those trapped under the debris and a dog squad has also been pressed into service.
Director General, NDRF, Sanjay Kumar, who rushed to the spot, told PTI that they were exercising caution while operating the machines so that those trapped under the debris were not harmed. This was leading to the delay, he said.
Kumar added that the rescue operations were expected to be over by tomorrow.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Gautam Budh Nagar DM to monitor the relief-and-rescue operations.
Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh had informed the chief minister about the rescue operations.
The spokesperson of the state government said the probe will ascertain whether both the buildings fell under the jurisdiction of the Greater Noida Authority and whether a no-objection certificate (NOC) was obtained before carrying out the construction.
It will also find out whether the quality of materials being used was up to the mark and whether the labourers at the construction site were registered in accordance with the labour laws.
The probe will fix responsibility for the incident and ascertain whether it could be classified as criminal negligence.
The DM, in his order, said the probe will also focus on whether the Greater Noida Authority had taken any concrete step to stop illegal construction in the area and if it had done so, what were the results.
An FIR under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50) were lodged at the Bisrakh police station against 18 persons in connection with the incident, the zonal IG said.
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