Two dead in Noida building collapse
Noida: Less than a week after nine people died in a building collapse in neighbouring Greater Noida, a four-year-old boy and a construction worker died while two others were injured after the wall of a basement at an under-construction site collapsed in Bahlolpur in Noida's Sector-63 on Friday.
Police on Saturday said they have arrested Bheem, the contractor in-charge of the construction work, and search is on for the owner of the house where the incident occurred.
According to police sources, the incident took place on Friday morning when labourers were busy working at the site.
"According to the information provided to us by locals, the wall collapsed on three construction workers and a four-year-old boy who was playing at the spot. All four persons were trapped under the debris. Locals rescued them and rushed to a nearby hospital," said Amit Kumar Singh, station house officer, Phase-3 police station.
Police said that the boy, identified as Himanshu, was taken to a private hospital in Sector-62 where he was declared brought dead on arrival.
The other victims, his parents Kaushalya and Prakash, and the third construction worker Hemraj were taken to SJM hospital in Sector-63.
Sources at SJM Hospital said the three injured workers were brought around 11 am on Friday.
"Prakash is critical as he received multiple fractures in the lower back and pelvic area and lost a lot of blood. His wife Kaushalya has suffered a pelvic fracture, but is out of danger," said a hospital official.
However, Hemraj, who suffered severe head injuries and was to be shifted to AIIMS Delhi on Friday night, reportedly passed away on the way to the hospital.
Following the incident, police registered an FIR against the owner of the house, whose identity is yet to be revealed, and the contractor of the building under sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.
"It came to light that proper safety measures and gears were not used by the contractor, following which we have arrested the contractor who has been identified as Bheem while we are yet to identify the owner of the building," said Singh.
