The builder used poor quality construction material which resulted in the collapse of the structure. (PTI Photo)
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested three persons, including the builder Ganga Prasad Dwivedi, for the collapse of two buildings in Greater Noida, killing at least three persons and trapping several others under the debris.
The incident in Shahberi village near Gaur City in Greater Noida West took place late on Tuesday, apparently due to "too much moisture in the walls of the basement and poor construction material used", an official said.
There were a dozen families living in the two buildings and it is feared that more than 50 persons, including labourers were still buried under the debris.
A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said in Lucknow. An FIR has been filed against 24 people, including the builder.
Here's what happened on Tuesday night and in last 12 hours after the incident:
# A six-storey under-construction building fell on an adjacent building in Shahberi village under the Bisrakh police station on Tuesday night. The second building also collapsed under the impact.
# At least 12 labourers were in the under-construction building on the outskirts of Delhi when the incident took place and all of them were feared trapped.
# The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams that had reached the spot immediately.
# District Magistrate B.N. Singh, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ashish Srivastava along with policemen from six police stations and NDRF teams requisitioned from Ghaziabad have been at the disaster site since the accident.
The area where the incident took place is dotted with such illegal buildings (Photo/Shashank Shantanu/IndiaTV
# The rescue operations were hampered at night due to poor visibility. Union Minister and Noida Lok Sabha MP Mahesh Sharma also visited the crash site.
# Two bodies were pulled out of the rubble late Tuesday night, while another body was pulled out on Wednesday morning.
# Rescue dogs, two hydraulic cranes and six bulldozers have been pressed into service to rescue the people trapped inside the debris.
# The owner of the land, Gangashankar Dwivedi, and two others -- Dinesh and Sanjay -- were arrested, confirmed Ram Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone.
# Taking note of the incident, Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate (DM) Brajesh Narayan Singh ordered a probe, seeking a report within 15 days.
# A magisterial probe has been ordered into the reasons behind the incident.
# Additional District Magistrate (administration) Kumar Vineet has been asked to carry out the probe. He will submit his report within 15 days.
The rescue work was hampered due to poor visibility as there was no electricity in the area and narrow lanes. (Photo/Shashank Shantanu/IndiaTV)
# Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were assisting the police personnel and fire-fighters in the ongoing rescue operations.
# Those involved in the rescue operations were facing difficulties because of the narrow lanes in the area and a huge crowd that had gathered there.
# Drills are being used to remove metal rods to reach those trapped under the debris and a dog squad has also been pressed into service.
# Few eye-witnesses said that one or two families had shifted to the 4th floor of the 6-storey building on July 14.
# Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Gautam Buddh Nagar DM to monitor the relief-and-rescue operations.
# Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh had informed the chief minister about the rescue operations.
# The spokesperson of the state government said the probe will ascertain whether both the buildings fell under the jurisdiction of the Greater Noida Authority and whether a no-objection certificate (NOC) was obtained before carrying out the construction.
# It will also find out whether the quality of materials being used was up to the mark and whether the labourers at the construction site were registered in accordance with the labour laws.
# The probe will fix responsibility for the incident and ascertain whether it could be classified as criminal negligence.
# The DM, in his order, said the probe will also focus on whether the Greater Noida Authority had taken any concrete step to stop illegal construction in the area and if it had done so, what were the results.
# An FIR under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) were lodged at the Bisrakh police station against 18 persons in connection with the incident, the zonal IG said.
Watch Video: Here's why the 6-storey building collapsed in Greater Noida West and who are the culprits
(With inputs from PTI, IANS)
