Decades old house collapses due to downpour

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 18

Residents of Arya Samaj Mandir locality had a narrow escape on Saturday night when a house collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

According to residents residing in the vicinity, the house was around 50-year-old and had been lying locked for the past 20 to 25 years. They said the owner of the building resided in Green Model Town area. No causality was reported and luckily, the passers-by managed to save their lives before the debris of the house fell onto the streets.

Area councillor Paramjot Singh Sherry Chadda said the owner of the house was identified as Rajendra Singh Rekhi. He said the house had developed cracks a few years back and one of the walls had already collapsed. However, the owner had not take any initiative to demolish the building completely. He said immediate action would be taken against Rekhi for not mentioning his building with the ‘Building Branch’.

Residents alleged that they had reported about the house to the councillor but no action was taken by the Municipal Corporation. Besides, the residents claimed that the house had become a den of several insects and snakes were also spotted coming out from the building.

Police personnel at the police Division 4 reached the spot in the morning and debris, consisting of bricks and mud, was removed from the street later.