Chandigarh, July 4: A massive rescue operation is currently underway in Chandigarh after an under-construction building caved in on Saturday evening, leaving five workers injured and three others suspected to be buried beneath the wreckage. Emergency teams quickly secured the perimeter in Phase II of the Industrial Area, deploying heavy machinery to clear the shattered structure.
The double-storey structure, which accommodated a scrap dealership alongside several multipurpose offices, gave way suddenly during the late afternoon. Local authorities noted that five individuals were successfully pulled from the debris in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. The recovered workers, identified as Kuldeep, Kulbir, Umesh, Rahul, and Ajeetesh, were quickly transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Eyewitnesses working in the vicinity reported hearing a deafening roar as the building came down. One nearby laborer stated that the structure collapsed unexpectedly at approximately 4:30 pm, causing immediate panic in the surrounding area. The site, situated right next to a local hotel, typically saw a steady influx of daily wagers, though the exact number of occupants present inside during the incident remains unverified.
The administration has scaled up the recovery efforts significantly to locate the remaining missing persons. Five cranes, two JCB machines, and a bulldozer are currently clearing the blocks of concrete. Former Chandigarh MP Pawan Bansal also arrived at the location to monitor the ongoing emergency response, while police teams maintained a strict cordon around the disaster zone to facilitate uninterrupted rescue operations.
