Greater Noida building collapse: 3 arrested, FIR against 18 persons

Greater Noida, July 18: A local resident alleged that the collapsed building is an illegal construction in Greater Noida's Shah Beri village. A six-storey under-construction building collapsed in Greater Noida, killing at least three persons and trapping several others under the debris.

S Dubey, a local resident, told news agency ANI, "I had approached local administration but no action was taken. We met MLA Tejpal Nagar who wrote to them to take action but nothing was done. Had also met DM and SSP but to no avail. All construction here is illegal, neither builder nor government or authority looks after it."

According to ANI, the arrested persons include the builder and two of his associates. The builder has been identified as Ganga Prasad Dwivedi. Union Minister Mahesh Sharma who also is the local MP, informed that he has ordered a probe into the incident.

Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, Ram Kumar said that an FIR against 18 persons under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) has been lodged at the Bisrakh police station.

The probe will fix responsibility for the incident and ascertain whether it could be classified as criminal negligence. The DM, in his order, said the probe will also focus on whether the Greater Noida Authority had taken any concrete step to stop illegal construction in the area and if it had done so, what were the results.

Rescue workers at Shahberi village

The incident occurred around 10 pm in Shahberi village. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim at the site of a collapsed building at Shahberi village, in Greater Noida West on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

Debris of a collapsed building

Rescue workers search for survivors under the debris of a collapsed building at Shahberi village, in Greater Noida West on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. A six-storey under-construction building collapsed in Greater Noida, killing at least two persons and trapping several others under the debris.

Locals said that at least 40 persons were inside the building when it collapsed. They added that around 12-15 families had shifted to another building. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim at the site of a collapsed building at Shahberi village, in Greater Noida West on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

NDRF teams and dog squads at the spot

District administration and NDRF teams and Dog squad are engaged in rescue and search operations. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy KP Maurya expressed condolences with the families of those who died in the incident.

12-15 families shifted to another building

Locals said that at least 40 persons were inside the building when it collapsed. They added that around 12-15 families had shifted to another building. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim at the site of a collapsed building at Shahberi village, in Greater Noida West on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. PTI

(With PTI inputs)