Two killed in roof collapse in fruit market

Chandigarh, June 10 (UNI) Two persons were killed and eleven others were injured when the roof of a shed collapsed in the fruit and vegetable market in Sector-26 here this afternoon, UT Joint Director, Public Relations Vineet Punia said.

However according to unofficial reports the death toll was stated to be six.

According to police officials and eye witnesses the heavy concrete structure of the 160-foot long shed collapsed when auction of fruits and vegetables was in progress. Around 50 to 60 persons were present at that time under the shed.

" The sound was like eight to nine shutters of shops coming down one by one", Mukesh Kumar, an eye witness said at the scene of the tragedy. There were loud shouts of 'bachao' (help) coming from under the collapsed structure and shopkeepers and customers rushed to the spot, but could do very little after they saw a huge pile of concrete.

Personnel of the Sector-26 police station and the police lines immediately after being informed of the tragedy. Cranes of the UT police and from the nearby Transport area were pressed into service and they managed to pull out a few persons from the mangle of stones, bricks, mud and iron and steel.

However they could make very little progress which prompted the civil and police authorities to contact the Western Command authorities. The army jawans with their heavy duty cranes and iron cutters reached the spot and immediately swung into action lifting the concrete structure and cutting through the collapsed iron sheets.

The army jawans pulled out 48 persons from the debris of the collapsed roof. Of the eleven injured, nine were shifted to the Sector-16 General Hospital where they were discharged after first aid. Two others whose condition was stated to be serious were admitted at the PGI.

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