Mohali building collapse death toll reaches 2, rescue operation called off

The death toll in the Mohali building collapse climbed to two after the body of a 29-year-old man was recovered from under the rubble on Sunday.

The district administration concluded the 23-hour long rescue operation, with the help of NDRF and Army, at around 4.30 pm.

The multi-storey building collapsed on Saturday evening in Sohana village of Mohali district, with at least five people trapped under its rubble. Rescue efforts continued overnight to find possible survivors.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mohali, Damandeep Kaur said one male body was recovered during the rescue operation on Sunday. He was identified as Abhishek Dhanwal from Ambala, who worked in an IT firm.

Earlier, a 20-year-old woman died in the incident on Saturday evening. Drishti Verma, a native of Theog in Shimla district, died after she was pulled out of the debris of the building. She worked in a private firm in Mohali.

She was rescued from the rubble in a critical condition and was rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to injuries.

A magisterial probe has been ordered in the incident and the Mohali SDM has been asked to submit the report within three weeks.

Officiating Deputy Commissioner Viraj S Tidke said the NDRF has confirmed that there was no more possibility of any person trapped under the debris.

A total of 600 personnel, 140 NDRF team members, 167 from the Army’s 57 Engineers Regiment, over 300 from local police and others from allied departments were involved in the operation.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the building, which also had a gym, collapsed due to digging in an adjacent plot.

Mohali SSP Deepak Pareek said, “Building owners Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, residents of Chao Majra, have been arrested for culpable homicide.”

The building was located in a densely populated area. A gym was being run from the basement and ground floor, and two upper floors housed the PG facility, said the police, adding that digging work was being carried out in the adjoining plot. MC officials said no permission had been taken for the digging work.