In Meerut’s Zakir Colony, a three-story building collapsed around 5:15 PM on Saturday, trapping 10 members of a single family under the debris. Teams from the police, fire department, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have managed to rescue six people so far, while efforts are ongoing to save the remaining four. Heavy rainfall at the time of the incident has added challenges to the rescue operation.
Old Building Collapses Amid Rain
The incident took place in the Lohiya Nagar area of Zakir Colony, where a 35-year-old building had become dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. The building suddenly collapsed amid heavy rainfall. Senior officials from Meerut, including ADG D.K. Thakur, Commissioner Selva Kumari J., IG Nachiketa Jha, and SSP Vipin Tada, are present at the scene. According to SSP Tada, 8-10 people were trapped when the building collapsed. No fatalities have been confirmed yet, but rescue operations are in full swing.
Rescue Operations Underway
After the collapse, local residents and neighbors immediately started efforts to rescue those trapped. The fire brigade and police teams arrived at the scene and began cutting through the pillars with electric cutters to remove debris. Six people have been rescued so far, while the search for the remaining four continues. Additional teams from the SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been called in to assist with the rescue operation.
Challenges in the Rescue Mission
The narrow lanes of the area made it difficult for large machinery to reach the collapse site. Initially, the fire brigade had to start the rescue operation manually. It wasn’t until two hours later, when larger machinery arrived, that the rescue efforts gained momentum.
What Happened at the Scene?
The building belonged to 90-year-old Nafho, who lived there with her two sons, Sajid and Govinda, and their families. When the building collapsed, the entire family was trapped under the debris. Neighbors quickly managed to pull three people—Naeem, Nadeem, and Shakir—out from the rubble and sent them to the hospital. Farzana, Alisha, Riza, Saniya, Nafisa, Shakib, and a three-month-old baby are still trapped under the debris, and the rescue operation to save them continues.
Further updates on the situation will be provided as more information becomes available.