5 dead, 28 injured as 3-storey building collapses in Lucknow
Lucknow, Sep 7: Five people died and 28 more were injured when a three-storey building housing godowns and a motor workshop collapsed in the Transport Nagar area here on Saturday evening, officials said.
Police said the building was constructed around four years ago and some construction work was underway at present. Most of the victims were working on the ground floor when the incident occurred at 4:45 pm.
According to the information provided by the office of the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner, the injured have been rushed to various hospitals in the district, including the Lok Bandhu Hospital.
Five people have died in the collapse and 28 others, including five women, have been injured, the officials said, adding that almost everyone in the building has been accounted for but a rescue operation is underway to ensure there is no one else under the debris.
Akash Singh, who works in a medical godown in the building and was among the injured, said they had seen that a pillar of the building had developed cracks.
"We had come down to the ground floor because it was raining. We noticed that a pillar of the building had developed a crack. Suddenly the entire building collapsed over us," he said.
The deceased were identified as Pankaj Tiwari (40), Dheeraj Gupta (48), Arun Sonkar (28), Raj Kishore (27) and Jasmit Singh (41).
According to the officials, the building had a motor workshop and warehouse on the ground floor, a medical godown on the first floor and a cutlery warehouse on the second floor.
Defence Minister and MP from Lucknow Rajnath Singh spoke to the district magistrate regarding the incident and took stock of the relief work and the treatment of the injured.
"My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he posted on X.
Senior police and administrative officials are on the spot to oversee the rescue operations.
A senior district administration official said the rescue effort is now focusing on ensuring that nobody is left behind buried in the rubble.
"Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed to the scene and are working to extricate the trapped individuals," Relief Commissioner G S Naveen Kumar said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken note of the situation and is monitoring the rescue efforts closely. He has also issued directions to ensure free treatment of the injured.
On receiving information about the incident, BJP metropolitan president Anand Dwivedi reached the site, inquired about the accident and assured the injured and their family members of every possible support.
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WB BJP chief urges state admin to act against violence perpetrators irrespective of party colours
Kolkata (PTI): A day after the BJP's sweeping victory in the West Bengal assembly polls, state party president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged the administration to act firmly against perpetrators of post-poll violence irrespective of political affiliation.
Addressing reporters after a meeting of the party's top leadership at its Bidhannagar office, Bhattacharya said strict action must be taken against those indulging in violence and warned that BJP workers found involved in such activities would be expelled from the party.
"Post-poll violence would not be tolerated in any form. If anyone from our party is found involved, we will be compelled to remove them," he said.
The BJP leader also appealed to Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala to ensure prompt administrative intervention wherever incidents of violence are reported.
"I would like to urge the administration to take necessary action wherever such incidents occur. This is precisely why the people of West Bengal have chosen the BJP," he said.
Bhattacharya thanked the electorate for the party's emphatic mandate and expressed gratitude to migrant workers who returned to the state to cast their votes despite logistical challenges.
According to party sources, a high-level meeting was held at the BJP's Bidhannagar office on Tuesday, attended by central observers and senior state leaders, to discuss measures to prevent violence and maintain law and order in the post-result scenario.
The discussions also focused on ensuring that there is no repeat of the violence reported after the 2021 assembly elections, when the BJP had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of targeting its workers.
The BJP has secured 207 of the 293 seats where polls were held, securing a two-thirds majority and paving the way for its first government in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress has won 80 seats.
Bhattacharya also appealed to party workers to maintain restraint and not let the victory celebrations turn disruptive.
"I urge our workers to remain peaceful, stay happy, and fulfil the responsibilities given by the party. Do not hurt anyone in the name of celebration, and do not hurt anyone's sentiments," he said.
