Doraha( Ludhiana), February 24
Seven labourers were crushed to death when the roof of the two-storeyed farmhouse where they were sleeping collapsed last
midnight. Two more who were seriously injured were rescued this morning.
The farmhouse being located outside Jaipura village, none heard any sound.
Bhupinder Singh, house owner and the employer of the labourers, has been booked for negligence in providing adequate shelter to the labourers. He was the first to learn of the tragedy when he came there in the morning.
He called for help and the villagers managed to rescue Ratiq-ul and Mohammad Shajahan, who were found
unconscious. They have suffered multiple fractures.
The deceased are Mohammad Gias (26), Mohammad Salim (23), Mohammad Bugga (27), Isapur (21),
Tejaamul (27) Mohammad Baroo (20) and Mohammad Akram (35).
All of them had reached Punjab from Bihar four days ago in search of livelihood. The contractor who hired them for the farmer has absconded.
SI Devinder Singh, in charge of the Doraha police post, said the roof of the house seemed to have caved in because of the weak structure on which it stood.
He said a thatched hut on the roof fell first. The second floor could not withstand the pressure as the bricks were lined with clay. The labourers sleeping on the first floor got no time to save themselves.
The two injured escaped death probably because they were sleeping near the walls.
SSP M. S. Farooqui and Payal SDM Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal inspected the site. The owner of the house claimed that the building was not weak.
