Surat Building That Collapsed Killing 7 Was Built Illegally In 2017

Surat: Seven people died and some others are still feared to be trapped for over 12 hours after a multi-storey building collapsed in the Sachin area of Gujarat’s Surat on Saturday amid heavy rain for several days in the region. While a woman was rescued soon after the collapse, the body of three others was pulled out by night, Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said.

Rescuers worked overnight to remove large concrete slabs that formed a mountain of debris at the site. NDRF and SDRF workers cut through the concrete to reach the trapped residents.

The building, constructed in 2017, had five families living inside it when it collapsed. According to police, several residents were at work when the collapse occurred but many others, who worked night shifts, were sleeping inside.

Locals said chaos ensued after the sudden collapse on Saturday and they rushed to save anyone they could from under the debris. While the building was only eight years old, most flats were vacant and dilapidated, officials said.

“Around five flats were occupied, mostly by those who work in factories in this area. When rescue work started, we heard the cries of those who were trapped. We rescued a woman from the rubble and sent her to hospital,” said Commissioner of Police, Surat, Anupam Gehlot.

Earlier, the senior police officer had said that around 6-7 people were suspected to be trapped under the rubble and rescue operations were on to pull them out. “We can hear their voices from inside the rubble. They will be rescued soon,” he said.