6 died while 20 trapped in Ludhiana after a five-storeyed building collapsed
Six persons were killed and two injured when a five-storeyed building collapsed after a major fire at a plastic manufacturing and chemical factory at Mustaq Ganj, near Cheema Chowk, here today.
At least 20 persons were feared trapped under the debris.
A blast was heard shortly before the building collapsed around noon, trapping those trying to douse the blaze, besides others.
The deceased were Samaon Gill (sub-fire officer), Puran Singh, Rajan (both firemen), Laxman Dravid (Municipal Corporation official) and Inderpal Singh (owner of nearby Pal Taxi Services). The sixth deceased was yet to be identified.
Those trapped include sub-fire officers Rajinder Sharma and Raj Kumar, and firemen Manohar Lal, Vishal Kumar, Manpreet Singh and Sukhdev Singh.
Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Bhupinder Singh said: “Shortly before the collapse, an official told me that the fire was under control. At least nine firemen were inside the building at that time.” The officials, however, did not confirm the exact number of people trapped.
Local residents said they had opposed the construction of the factory in the residential area. Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Aggarwal said: “The rescue operation is on to save those trapped. It may take a few days to remove the debris completely.”
DCP Dhruman Nimbale said a case under Section 304-A of the IPC had been registered against the factory owner. “We will look how chemical stock was stored in the factory,” he said.
