Six injured in Uttar Pradesh building collapse

LUCKNOW - Six people were critically injured Wednesday when a commercial building under construction collapsed in a town in Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The accident took place in Kilanagar town in Meerut district when a major portion of the first floor of the commercial building collapsed.

“Rescue operations are over now. All the six people who were trapped under the debris have been taken out. They have received multiple injuries and are being treated at a hospital, where the condition of four is stated to be critical,” police inspector R.P. Singh told reporters in Meerut, some 450 km from Lucknow.

“The injured include labourers and relatives of the owner of the upcoming commercial establishment. It could have been a major mishap, but as no major construction activities were being carried out today, only a few labourers were present at the site,” he said.

Police are yet to ascertain the cause behind the accident but suspect use of sub-standard construction material could have caused the collapse.

“Investigations are being carried out in this regard. The contractor who was supervising the construction work is absconding. Efforts are on to nab him,” Singh said.