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3 killed, 7 injured as roof of factory collapses in Ludhiana
Search on for three people trapped in debris of four-storeyed auto parts factory whose owner was carrying out illegal construction
Three labourers died and seven were injured when the roof of a four-storeyed auto parts factory collapsed in the industrial area along Daba Road in Ludhiana on Monday morning.
A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 37 of 40 people after the incident occurred at 9.50am at Jasmail Singh and Sons, the factory at Baba Mukand Singh Nagar in the industrial area. Efforts are on to rescue the three still trapped in the debris.
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Ludhiana deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the lintel on the third floor collapsed when the factory owner was carrying out illegal construction. “The injured are undergoing treatment at SPS Apollo Hospital and the civil hospital,” Sharma said.
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) master town planner Surinder Singh Bindra said that the factory was operating in violation of building bylaws. “The factory owner was trying to extend the structure of the building by placing jacks on the third floor. There is no provision under the law to make any such alteration,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said the roof collapsed with a loud thud followed by an explosion.
Ludhiana police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said a case has been registered against contractor Mohammad Haroon under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
