Shop ceiling collapse kills 24-year-old in Ghaziabad, police file case against owner

Ghaziabad: A 24-year-old man was killed after the ceiling of a shop collapsed in Loni, Ghaziabad, on Monday evening, officials said on Tuesday

Ghaziabad: A 24-year-old man was killed after the ceiling of a shop collapsed in Loni, Ghaziabad, on Monday evening, officials said on Tuesday. No arrests have been made so far.

Fire officials said locals alerted them about the incident at around 5pm. Fire tenders and personnel were rushed to the spot. (Shutterstock)

Police identified the deceased as a local resident who worked at the shop. The incident occurred after the extended roof over a hardware-cum-sanitary shop near Gulab Vatika, close to the Delhi-Saharanpur Road, collapsed, trapping three people, according to officials familiar with the case details.

Fire officials said locals alerted them about the incident at around 5pm. Fire tenders and personnel were rushed to the spot.

“The shop operated from the ground floor and had a mezzanine floor as well. An additional floor was constructed above it. The incident occurred as more construction work was underway on the rooftop. Since the ground floor supported the upper storeys on iron girders, it could not bear the weight of the extra construction and crumbled, trapping three people – two construction workers and one staff member of the shop,” said Rahul Pal, chief fire officer.

“The two men rescued first received minor injuries. But the third was declared dead on arrival at the hospital,” officials said, adding that a “massive stock of goods” stored by the shop owner on the upper storeys added to the load, leading to the collapse.

“We have lodged an FIR against the shop owner under BNS section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) at Loni Border police station, and a probe is underway,” said Mukesh Kumar, station house officer, Loni Border police station.

Amardeep Maurya, ACP of Ankur Vihar circle, said, “The FIR has been lodged based on the family of the deceased.” Police said further investigation is underway to determine the extent of negligence.”