At least 15 people were confirmed dead on Saturday after a wall collapsed in Pune’s Kondhwa locality, reported PTI. The 60 feet long wall collapsed on tin huts that were adjacent to it killing the occupants of the huts. According to latest reports, there are still several people feared to be trapped inside the debris. Search and rescue operations are currently underway at the incident site.
Reportedly, the incident occurred early in the morning near Talab Masjid in Kondhwa and it is being speculated that the wall collapsed due to incessant rains in the city. Among the 17 deceased, there were nine males, four females and four kids. There are two or three more people feared to be still trapped in the debris. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is currently carrying out search and rescue operations.
District Collector Pune, Naval Kishore Ram confirmed that the wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall and the people who died in the incident were mostly labourers from Bihar and West Bengal. He added that negligence of the construction company which built the wall is suspected to be the main reason behind the unfortunate incident. He also said that the state government will provide help to the affected families.
Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak said that an investigation will be conducted into the incident and the city administration is giving a ‘work stop’ order so that no work can be continued at the construction site there.
Pune Police Commissioner K Venkatesham also briefed media on the incident saying that a team has been constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the wall collapse. “Firm action will be taken against those responsible. We will check whether proper permissions were taken and safety measures were followed,” he added.
Elsewhere in Mumbai’s Chembur, a wall collapsed on auto-rickshaws parked adjacent to it on late Friday night. Fire brigade personnel have reached the spot and removing the debris from the site. no casualties have been reported so far.
SOURCE- TIMES NOW NEWS
