Two die in UP cold storage roof collapse, 10 rescued
Sambhal (UP), Mar 16: Two people were killed and some others were feared trapped under the rubble when the roof of a cold storage building collapsed in Chandausi here on Thursday, a senior police officer said.
Till evening, 10 people had been rescued, Deputy Inspector General of Police Salabh Mathur said. Rescue workers were still working to bring others to safety.
District Magistrate Manish Bansal said personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district administration are carrying out relief and rescue operations.
Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra had earlier said 15-20 people were feared trapped under the rubble.
The DIG said details of those who died are being collected.
SDM Chandausi, Ramkesh Dhama, said the roof of AR cold storage on Islam Nagar Road in Mai village collapsed .
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to carry out immediate relief and rescue work.
"In view of the accident in the cold storage in Chandausi district of Sambhal, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the district administration officials, SDRF and NDRF teams to conduct immediate relief and rescue work by reaching the spot," the CM Office tweeted.
Chief Medical Officer Tarannum Raza told PTI that 15-20 ambulances and over half a dozen doctors are at the spot to help the injured. Oxygen cylinders have also been arranged.
Around six excavators have been pressed into service to clear the debris, officials said.
Sambhal is around 155 km from Delhi and over 350 km from Lucknow, the state capital.
The DIG said that some still trapped inside are alerting the rescuers by shouting.
Due to the presence of Ammonia gas cylinders in the cold storage, extra precaution is being taken while carrying out rescue work, the DIG said.
Additional lights have been arranged for carrying the operation which would continue till late night, he said.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
