Rescuers involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Army on Sunday began the operation on the second day as a few people were believed to be trapped in the debris of a four-storey building that collapsed in Punjab&rsquo;s Mohali town.&nbsp;
One male body was recovered on Sunday, Subdivisional Magistrate Damandeep Kaur said, adding the victim has been identified as Abhishek Dhanwal, hailing from Ambala.
Earlier, Drishti Verma (20) succumbed to injuries sustained when she was trapped in the debris of a building collapse in the Sohana village of Punjab&rsquo;s Mohali district late on Saturday, officials said. A native of Theog in Himachal Pradesh, Verma had been rushed to Sohana Hospital, in a critical condition, after being rescued, Viraj S Tidke, officiating deputy commissioner, said.
According to NDRF officials, people were buried under the debris when the structure of a gym collapsed owing to digging in an adjacent building&rsquo;s basement in Sector 77, officials said.
The debris of two floors has been cleared, a senior police official told the media at the disaster spot. He said they got information of two missing people but they would continue with the rescue and search operation, Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek told the media.
The building&rsquo;s owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, have been booked in the case, Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek said.
While initial reports had said five people had been trapped in the rubble the number has risen in this developing story. Some reports say as many as 20 people may have been hedged in when the building, which is believed to have housed a three-floor gym and a paying guest facility, fell.
A local resident said a loud noise was heard when the building collapsed. While the incident is being investigated, preliminary information suggests that the building collapsed after a basement was dug in a nearby area.&nbsp;
Videos of the Fire Department, National Disaster Relief Force and the Indian Army conducting joint rescue operations were shared widely on <a href="https://x.com/BenefitNews24/status/1870662022523707598">social media</a>.
Superintendent Pareek added that the reason for the &ldquo;Operation is underway. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and fire teams are at the spot. The reason behind this mishap will be investigated,&rdquo;&nbsp;Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek told the media.
Tidke added that a helpline number 0172-2219506 had been set up for the family members of those trapped in the debris.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reacted to news of the collapse in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BhagwantMann/status/1870469498396139641">post on X</a>.
&ldquo;Sad news has been received that a multi-storey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has collapsed. The entire administration and other rescue teams have been deployed at the spot. I am in constant touch with the administration,&rdquo;&nbsp;he said.
&ldquo;We pray that there is no loss of life, we will also take action against the culprits. Appeal to the people to cooperate with the administration,&rdquo; he later added.

Drishti Verma was rescued alive, but succumbed to her injuries

Multi-storey structure fell, trapping several people allegedly due to digging in basement of adjacent building

Death Toll in Mohali Building Collapse Rises to 2

Multi-storey structure fell, trapping several people allegedly due to digging in basement of adjacent building

December 22, 2024 | 08:55 IST