A 10-year-old child died and three minors were injured when a part of a three-storey building collapsed on top of passers-by in Nithari village in Sector 31 on Monday.
The building was under renovation for the past two months, the locals alleged.
“I was inside the house when the power suddenly went out, followed by a loud sound. I peeped outside and saw many people running around. There was debris on the street,” said Ramwati, who lives in the neighbourhood.
Stating that the police was alerted immediately, after which rescue work started, she said the house belongs to Vijendra Awana.
Locals claimed the incident happened when a part of the second storey collapsed onto the first floor canopy. “Many passers-by got trapped under the canopy when it collapsed,” said another local, Ramlal. The street is one of the busiest in the area.
During rescue operations, two women and two boys were pulled out from under the debris, the police said. The boys were taken to the district hospital, where Shakeel (12) was discharged after first aid. However, Luv Subba from Darjeeling died during treatment. The women, both 18, are currently undergoing treatment.
“The debris is being cleared and the situation is under control. The incident will be probed thoroughly,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna.
The Noida Authority said the “old house” was being refurbished and blamed its owner for being “careless”. “The owner [Awana] got the walls and ceiling of the house torn down first, but a portion on the front side was left hanging due to carelessness, which collapsed today [on Monday]. Four children were on the street outside the house at the time of the collapse,” Authority’s Officer on Special Duty Rajesh Kumar Singh said.
The police said a first information report will be registered based on a complaint by the family of the deceased. “Based on their complaint, a case will be registered against the owner and contractor,” said Station House Officer (Sector 20) Manoj Kumar Pant.
In another incident, the project foreman was killed in Sector 63 when the ground floor of an under-construction building caved into the basement, the police said. Mustaq Ali was taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead, they said.
(With PTI inputs)
