9 dead in Pune building mishap

Pune, July 29

Nine labourers were killed today when a slab they were laying for the “unauthorised” 13th floor of an under-construction building in the Balewadi area collapsed.

“The mishap occurred around 11 am when 13-14 labourers were working on the 13th floor of the residential project,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Zone-III), B Teli said.

An officer attached to Chatushringi police station said a case was being registered. “All the deceased hailed from Bihar and their bodies will be handed over to their families after autopsy,” he said.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Kunal Kumar said the 13th floor of the ‘Park Xpress’ project was “unauthorised” as the said building had permission to construct only 12 floors.

Following the incident, the civic body has issued a ‘stop work’ notice to the builder and also ordered stopping of the construction at other buildings at the site. “As per PMC records, the building had permission till 12th floors, however, the 13th floor, of which slab was caved-in, was not given any permission and it was unauthorised,” Kumar said. — PTI