Mohali building collapse: 2 dead, 4 trapped as rescue effort underway

Chandigarh: At least two died, and five were trapped under the rubble as a four-storey building collapsed in Sohana village of Punjab's Mohali district late Saturday. A rescue operation is currently underway, reported PTI.

The woman was rescued from the rubble in critical condition and was rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries, officials said. The man was pulled out of the debris and declared dead. Their identities are yet to be ascertained, police said.

The rescue effort continued overnight. Several excavators were pressed into service as part of the operation, officials added. Additionally, the police have booked two building owners in the incident.

National Disaster Response Team (NDRF), Army, and state rescue teams have been working to address the crisis. Medical teams, along with an ambulance, have also been deployed at the site. As the rescue efforts continued at the site, the required equipment and machinery, in addition to those brought by the NDRF and Army, were made available to the rescuers, police said.

"Indian Army reacted swiftly for the rescue. In a remarkable display of coordinated efforts, Indian Army Columns, along with NDRF and State rescue teams, have been relentlessly working to address the crisis. Engineer Task Force with debris clearance machine & JCBs are operational at the site. Top debris removed & efforts being done to reach the basement," Western Command, Indian Army, said in a post on X.

After the incident, several hospitals in Mohali, such as Civil Hospital, Fortis, Max and Sohana, were put on alert to be prepared to treat the injured.