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8 killed in hotel building collapse
Officials fear that many more people might be trapped under the debris of the three-storyed building in Kalupur, reports Rathin Das.
At least eight people were killed and more than a dozen suffered injuries as a four-storey hotel collapsed in Kalupur area outside Ahmedabad railway station on Sunday morning. Several people were trapped under the debris and rescue efforts by fire department officials, the Army and Civil Defence personnel are on.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner B Makwana, who was supervising the rescue operations in the afternoon, confirmed the death of six people. He feared that many more might be trapped under the debris.
Hotel Shakunta collapsed around 8.30 in the morning. Eyewitnesses claimed that they had informed the hotel owner and civic authorities on Saturday that the building was tilting on one side.
Locals revealed that the adjacent plot, which was lying vacant, was recently dug up nearly 20 feet for a new construction. “This had weakened the foundation of the four-storey building with a terrace garden and a huge water tank on the top floor,” an local resident said.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had few days back served a notice to the owner of the vacant plot for digging without taking safety measures.
State Health Minister Jay Narain Vyas visited the injured in the Civil Hospital. Chief Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
