Meerut Building Collapse: Death toll increases to 10; rescue operation still underway

Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 15 (ANI): The total number of deaths in the Meerut building collapse has risen to 10, while five individuals are undergoing treatment in the hospital, said a senior police official on Sunday.

The police official said that the incident spot has been sealed, however, the search and rescue operation is continuing to ensure “no possibility of any human life in the debris”.

The five injured individuals have been admitted to the hospital for medical treatment, while the recovered bodies have been sent to the hospital for further medical procedures, including post-mortem.

According to the police official, the incident occurred at around 4.30 pm on Saturday in the Zakir colony area of Meerut City.

Speaking to ANI, Meerut DM Deepak Meena said, “The incident occurred around 4:30 pm in the Zakir colony area of Meerut. As told by the family and relatives, 15 people were trapped in the debris of the house. All 15 have been rescued, 10 out of which have died and 5 are undergoing treatment. The bodies have been sent to the hospital for further medical procedures including post-mortem. The area has been sealed and debris is being cleared. The rescue operation will go on till we find no possibility of any human life in the debris.

Earlier, in the day, the reports said around nine people lost their lives after a three-storey building collapsed in the Zakir Colony area of Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh.

NDRF and SDRF teams used sniffer dogs to detect signs of human life under rubble as part of their rescue operation in Zakir Colony of Meerut.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are present at the spot and rescue operations are ongoing amid rain in the area.

Currently, 11 districts in Uttar Pradesh are affected by floods. So far, 17 people have died due to floods, as per information by the office of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Earlier, the UP-Chief Minister’s office in a post on X, wrote “Relief money of Rs 4 lakh each has been provided to the families of the deceased. So far, relief money has been provided to 30 affected people in connection with the loss of 30 animals. 3,056 houses have been damaged. Relief assistance has been distributed in connection.”