4 labourers dead, 12 injured in cold storage collapse in Prayagraj
Prayagraj (PTI): Four labourers were killed, and 12 were injured after being trapped under the debris following the collapse of a cold storage facility on Monday afternoon here, an official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and have announced financial assistance to the injured and ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma told PTI, "12 labourers were injured in the incident and are receiving treatment at SRN Hospital. Four labourers died."
He said that teams from the district administration, police, SDRF, and the fire brigade are engaged in relief and rescue operations, working to clear the debris from the site and search for any trapped individuals.
DCP (Ganga Nagar) Kuldeep Gunawat said that the cold storage facility, located in the Phaphamau police station area, suddenly crumbled and collapsed this afternoon. The incident triggered panic in the area as ammonia gas began leaking from the facility.
He said that fire brigade teams are also active at the scene, working to contain the gas leak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced Rs 50,000 for the injured and an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased.
In the post, he said, "Deeply saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult hour. May those injured recover at the earliest.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on X in Hindi, said, "The loss of life resulting from the accident at the cold storage facility in the Prayagraj district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families."
"I have issued directives to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident, and have instructed district administration officials to immediately send the injured to the hospital to ensure they receive proper medical treatment," he said.
According to a statement, he has also announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the injured labourers.
Earlier, the District magistrate had said, "We received information between 1:30 pm and 2 pm today regarding the collapse of a cold storage facility in Phaphamau, following which senior officials, including myself and the Police Commissioner, reached the scene and initiated relief and rescue operations."
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
