Chandigarh: A 54-year-old two-story building suddenly collapsed in Chandigarh's Industrial Area Phase-2 on Saturday, trapping the building owner and laborers under the debris. Police teams rushed to the spot immediately upon receiving the information.

All individuals trapped in the rubble have been safely evacuated. While four people were rescued earlier in the day, two more were pulled out at 9:45 PM. The latter two were transported to the hospital wrapped in white sheets. According to sources, they are feared dead, though official confirmation is still awaited.

Ramesh, a survivor who was pulled from the debris, stated that around 20 to 25 people were inside the building. At approximately 4:20 PM, they felt a tremor similar to an earthquake, and the building instantly collapsed. To rescue those trapped, the NDRF was called in. JCB machines were used to remove the lintel/roof to ensure airflow and save lives.

NDRF official Sanjeev Kohli reported, "We have rescued two people from the debris; one was unconscious, while the other was responsive. Our team successfully secured the lintel." The entire rescue operation lasted for about 5.5 hours.

MPS Chawla, President of the Industry Association, noted that the building was quite old. Located at Plot No. 28/9 in the Industrial Area, scrap work was being conducted on the premises. He attributed the roof's collapse to the building's age.

Built in 1972, Rented Out 15 Days Ago According to available information, the commercial building was allotted and constructed in 1972. It was rented out just 15 days ago, and work was actively underway. Continuous rain over the past two days reportedly caused dampness and seepage, which ultimately led to the structural failure. The two individuals trapped inside later in the evening were identified as Tarun Kaushik and Tarun Jain, both residents of Meerut, UP.

Delay in Informing NDRF The incident occurred around 4:20 PM. Police and Civil Defence teams arrived promptly and initiated the rescue operation. However, the NDRF was not informed immediately. They received the distress call around 6:45 PM—nearly two and a half hours after the collapse—after which NDRF teams arrived and took charge of the situation.

Mayor Comments on the Incident Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi stated that six to seven people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Four were rescued safely, and while two remained trapped at the time of his statement, he mentioned their condition was stable. He confirmed it was an old building undergoing renovation work. However, when questioned about the Civil Defence team's delay in notifying the NDRF, the Mayor declined to comment.