Ambala roof collapse, survey of old buildings ordered

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Ambala, July 15

After a man was killed in a roof collapse incident in the city area on Wednesday, the district administration has decided to get a survey of all old and unsafe buildings done in the district.

Action to be taken

Many old buildings are in a dilapidated condition and may collapse. I have ordered a survey of old buildings. The unsafe buildings will be declared condemned, evacuated, and demolished so that there is no loss of life and property. Vikram Singh, Deputy Commissioner

Gohana shed collapse: Rs 5L aid to kin of dead

Chandigarh: CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said an assistance of Rs 5 lakh will be given to families of the persons who died after a shed fell on them in the new vegetable market at Gohana, Sonepat. In a tweet, the CM wrote that the loss of life in the unfortunate incident was sad.

On Wednesday, 62-year-old Hari Prasad was killed after the roof of his two-storeyed rented accommodation collapsed in Ambala City. In another incident earlier this week, a small portion of an old building in the Ambala Sadar area had collapsed. No injuries were reported in the incident.

An official said old and unsafe structures posed a big threat to not only the people living in these buildings but also to the neighbours. Incidents of building and roof collapse increased during the rainy season. Several government offices were also being run from old buildings.

Deputy Commissioner Vikram Singh has directed the District Municipal Commissioner to get a survey of the old buildings conducted and get the unsafe buildings declared condemned.

The DC had on Thursday visited the ill-fated house along with the district officials and inquired about the incident and also the condition of the other houses in the area.

The DC said, “Many old buildings are in a dilapidated condition and may collapse. The Municipal Commissioner has been asked to get a survey of old buildings conducted and take action as per the rules. The unsafe buildings will be declared condemned, evacuated, and demolished so that there is no loss of life and property. We have also appealed to the people living in such buildings to shift to the nearest dharmashalas.”

Meanwhile, the Ambala Police on Friday arrested Gurdev Singh and Kunal of Ambala in connection with the roof collapse incident. They were produced before a court, which sent them to judicial custody.

In her complaint to the police, Panmati, a native of MP, had stated that she and her husband Hari Prasad were living in the rented accommodation for past three months. They used to beg alms.

“Along with us, some more families also used to live in the house. We used to pay Rs 1,500 per month rent. The condition of the house was poor. We had asked Gurdev Singh and Kunal to get the house repaired, but they ignored our requests. On July 13, the mishap took place,” she added.

A case was registered under Section 304 of the IPC at the Sector 9 police station.