Panipat gurdwara collapse: Toll reaches 4, Haryana CM Khattar announces compensation

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited the gurdwara on Tuesday and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh for injured.

More than a day after a portion of Gurdwara Pehli Pashahi’s building caved in at Panipat, bodies of three more persons were recovered from the debris on Tuesday, taking the toll to four.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal offering condolences to bereaved families at Gurdwara Pehli Pashahi in Panipat. (HT Photo)

According to police sources, at least two more people continue to remain trapped under the debris.

The bodies of sewadar Sardar Darshan Singh, migrant labourer Badshah (38) of Bareli and Rati Ram (45) of Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh were recovered the NDRF team late Tuesday evening. The rescue operations were still on till last reports came in. Police said they are suspecting two more people, including sewadar Devendra Singh and another labourer, to be trapped under the debris.

“We are facing problem in removing the debris. A few more people can be seen buried under the debris and their chances of survival are bleak,” told a member of the National Disaster Response Force team to Hindustan Times. He added: “We are removing the cemented roof to reach building’s ground floor.”

A five-member committee under additional deputy commissioner Rajiv Mehta has been formed to look into the reason behind the building collapse. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.

Panipat SDM Vevek Chaudhary has said, “We cannot say anything as of now but the matter will be probed after rescue operations are over.”

Meanwhile, heavy police deployment has been made in 100mt radius of the gurdwara and traffic has been diverted. Hundreds of sewadars from other gurdwaras are assisting the rescue teams.