A tragic incident unfolded in Punjab’s Mohali district on Saturday evening when a four-storey building in Sohana village collapsed, leading to the death of a 20-year-old woman from Himachal Pradesh and leaving several others feared trapped under the debris.
The victim, identified as Drishti Verma from Theog, was rescued from the rubble in critical condition and rushed to Sohana Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The building, which housed a gym in the basement, collapsed due to excavation work being carried out at an adjacent plot by the building’s owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh. The land subsided because of the excavation, causing the structure to crumble.
Rescue operations commenced immediately, with teams from the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and fire departments working tirelessly through the night. Several excavators were deployed to clear the debris and search for survivors. As of Sunday morning, one person remains hospitalized in critical condition, and efforts continue to locate and rescue any remaining individuals trapped beneath the rubble.
In response to the incident, the Mohali district administration has set up a control room to assist those seeking information about their loved ones. The contact number provided is 0172-2219506. Additionally, major hospitals in the city, including Civil Hospital, Fortis, Max, and Sohana, have been put on alert to cater to the injured.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “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 further assured that action would be taken against those responsible and appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities.
The owners of the building, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, have been booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse and assess any violations of construction and safety regulations.
This tragic event has raised concerns about construction practices and safety standards in the region. Authorities are expected to conduct thorough inspections of nearby structures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The community mourns the loss of Drishti Verma and hopes for the swift and safe rescue of any remaining individuals trapped in the debris.
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on providing medical assistance to the injured, supporting the affected families, and ensuring that those responsible for the negligence leading to this disaster are held accountable.
