Chandigarh: On the second day of rescue efforts, the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) and the Indian Army continued to search for three individuals believed to be trapped under the debris of a collapsed four-story building in Mohali, Punjab. Tragically, a 20-year-old woman from Himachal Pradesh, Drishti Verma, has died as a result of the incident.
NDRF officials reported that five people were trapped when the gym structure fell due to excavation work on an adjacent building’s basement in Sector 77. Drishti, who was from Theog in Shimla district, was rescued but later succumbed to her injuries at a hospital, according to Viraj S. Tidke, the officiating Deputy Commissioner.
Authorities have filed charges against the building owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as informed by Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek.
The Indian Army dispatched a specialized engineering team on Saturday evening to assist with the rescue operations, which are being carried out in coordination with the NDRF and local rescue teams. Heavy machinery, including JCBs and debris clearance equipment from an Engineer Task Force, has been deployed to the site. Rescuers have begun removing top layers of debris in an effort to access the basement where some individuals are believed to be trapped.
District officials promptly arrived at the location to initiate rescue operations, supported by local residents and various departments. Senior Superintendent of Police Pareek was one of the first responders at the scene. Following the disaster, a request was made to the NDRF based in Pinjore, and the Indian Army was also alerted to bolster the rescue efforts.
Deputy Commissioner Tidke emphasized that the district administration is committed to rescuing everyone trapped and has made all necessary equipment available for the ongoing round-the-clock operations. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is in touch with officials overseeing the rescue efforts, urging maximum effort to save the victims. Local leaders, including Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang and MLA Kulwant Singh, were present on-site to monitor the progress.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav is overseeing the operation, ensuring the safety of those affected. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain confirmed that the rescue mission will persist until all missing persons are accounted for, with duty magistrates deployed to assist the rescue teams and police.