Solan building death toll climbs to 14; magisterial probe ordered

Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, July 15

Death toll in Sunday’s building collapse in Solan climbed to 14 on Monday.

A day after the building that came crashing to the ground trapped 42 people under it, rescuers pulled out 11 more bodies from the rubble, adding to the three more bodies they had already found by 11 pm on Sunday.

The building that collapsed on Sunday was a ‘dhaba’, or an eatery. Thirteen of those killed were armymen from the 4 Assam Regiment at Dagshai. The only civilian who died was ‘dhaba’ owner’s wife, Archana.  The exhaustive rescue operation saw National Disaster Response Force, the Central Reserve Police Force, and local policemen get involved.

Authorities said that they had combed the site until on Monday evening to ensure there were no more bodies.   

Those armymen who died have been identified were Subedar Balvinder Singh;  Naib Subedar Raj Kishore Singh;  Naib Subedar Vinod Kumar;  Subedar Ajit Kumar; Subedar Major Pardeep Chand;  Subedar Yogesh Kumar;  Subedar Bishar Singh;  Subedar Hem Kumang;  Naib Subedar  Nabin Chandra;  Subedar Kumar Chorai;  Subedar Surjit Sharma;  Subedar Rajan Bahadur; and  Subedar Lalson Vaiphe.

Forty-two people were at the ‘dhaba’ when it collapsed. Nineteen people sustained some form of injury in the accident. All survivors were rescued within the first hour of the rescue operation, authorities said.

Solan Deputy Commissioner KC Chaman said there would be magisterial inquiry into the incident.  The inquiry would be completed within 15 days.

Solan’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rohit Rathore, who would head the inquiry, said that slush after heavy rain had slowed down rescue operations initially.  

Dharampur Police registered a case under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code against the owner of the dhaba.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who visited the spot on Monday morning, said initial investigation has found that the structure was not built up to specifications.

 "There are more such buildings in the state. Owners have constructed them without following building by-laws. Whatever is required to be done, will be done to check it," he said. With PTI inputs 

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