Seven Armymen among 8 dead after building collapses in Himachal Pradesh's Solan
Shimla: The death toll in the building collapse in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district climbed to eight on Monday, with rescuers pulling out the body of another Army jawan from the debris, officials said.
28 others were injured after the four-storey building, which housed a restaurant, collapsed on the Nahan-Kumarhatti Road on Sunday evening following heavy rains.
The bodies of seven Army personnel and a civilian have been extricated so far from the debris, officials said. Solan Sub Divisional Magistrate Rohit Rathore said at least seven persons are still feared trapped under the debris.
However, the actual number of those trapped inside would be clear only after the rescue operation ends, which is expected to be over by this evening.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who visited the spot on Monday morning, said initial investigation has found that the structure was not built up to specifications.
"A magisterial inquiry has already been ordered. Strict legal action will be taken against erring persons after getting the report," he said.
A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the owner of the building, he added.
"There are more such buildings in the state. Owners have constructed them without following building by-laws. Whatever is required to be done, will be done to check it," he said.
The chief minister said, "Rescue operation is still on. Necessary equipment was airlifted on Sunday evening itself through a helicopter from Shimla's Sunni to carry out the rescue work by the NDRF".
An injured soldier told reporters from the hospital that when the building collapsed, there were 35 Army personnel inside it, of whom 30 were Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs).
He said, Army personnel belonging to the 4 Assam Regiment of nearby Dagshai Cantonment went to the restaurant "to party as it was a Sunday but suddenly the building shook and collapsed in no minutes".
Another injured person Rakesh Kumar, said that about 50 persons, including several Army personnel, restaurant staff and other customers were in the building when it collapsed.
"We thought it was a quake and did not know how the building collapsed and we were trapped under the debris. I remained trapped for about 10-15 minutes after which some people rescued me," he added.
The Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police initially carried out the rescue operation.
Subsequently, two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams -- one each from Haryana's Panchkula and Shimla's Sunni -- reached the spot later in the night to carry out the rescue work, Director-cum-Special Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, D C Rana told PTI.
A third NDRF team from Panchkula joined the rescue operation on Monday morning, he added.
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Bondi Beach shooting: EAM Jaishankar speaks to Australia's Wong
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday conveyed to his Australian counterpart Penny Wong India's "fullest support" to Australia in the wake of a deadly shooting incident at the iconic Bondi Beach targeting a Jewish celebration that left 15 people dead.
In a phone conversation with Wong, Jaishankar also condoled the death of innocent people in the attack.
"Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister @SenatorWong.Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support," he said on social media.
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Fifteen people were killed and over 40 others injured in the attack by two gunmen on Sunday, according to Australian authorities.
Hours after the incident, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack.
Condemn in the strongest terms the terror attack on Hanukkah celebrations in Bondi Beach, he said on Sunday.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as a "dark moment" for the country.
"This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith," he told reporters.
"At this dark moment for our nation, our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage," he said.
The shooting at Bondi followed a wave of antisemitic attacks in the country.
The attackers were identified as father and son duo of Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The father was shot dead by police while the son sustained injuries and he is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the world leaders who condemned the attack.
"Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah," Modi said on X on Sunday.
"On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief," he said.
The prime minister said India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms of terrorism.
