Click to play videoNew Delhi: At least two people have been killed and nine others were injured as the concrete roof of Chandigarh’s biggest grain market collapsed on Sunday evening.
The Punjab government has ended rescue operation in the area, and rescued all the 50 that were trapped under the debris.
Earlier Chandigarh Home Secretary Krishan Mohan had said the number of people trapped under the debris would not be more that 20. The incident occurred in the Sector 26 market of the city.
Cranes and ambulances were rushed to the scene to rescue those trapped under the debris.
Krishan Mohan along with top police and district officials had reached the spot soon after the incident to supervise the rescue operation.
“The initial estimate of the people trapped was about 50 people. But as people are being evacuated, the number is now believed to be far lesser than that. Nine people have been taken to the hospital with serious injuried. The Army has reached and Air Force personnel are on their way to join the rescue work. We are doing everything possible," Krishan Mohan told CNN-IBN.
The Home Secretary had also denied reports of any death initially.
"Initially people panicked. It doesn't look like a huge mishap. Rescue operation will be over by 2100 hrs (IST). Some of injured people have been rescued and sent to PGI Hospital, Chandigarh, for treatment," he said.
"We have made arrangements for light and power-generating sets. We will be in a position to light up the area well in some time. I am sure we will be able to rescue all the people in an hour’s time. But clearing the entire structure will take time,” he added.
There are a total of nine compartments in the market which have been affected and holes will have to be made in all of them for the rescue operations.
The Administrator of Chandigarh, Lalit Sharma, also didn't confirm any death in the incident.
“We cannot confirm the death toll. We don't know how many people are trapped. We have sought the help of the Army and we are getting assistance from every quarter. The Army is on its way. They are bringing specialised equipment for rescue operations," he said.
The Inspector General, Chandigarh, S K Jain, however, said there were over 500 people in the vegetable market when the incident took place. “Most of the people have been pulled out and now there are only four-five people trapped inside. The Army has been asked to help out,” he said.
The rescue operations will be carried out through the night and the administration should be able to handle the electricity problem in the area.
(With inputs from Jyoti Kamal)
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