Himachal Woman Dies Following Mohali Building Collapse as Rescue Operations Continue

A tragic incident occurred in Sohana village, Mohali district, Punjab, where a four-storey building collapsed. A 20-year-old woman from Himachal Pradesh, Drishti Verma, was pulled from the debris but later died from her injuries. The building collapse happened on Saturday evening, trapping at least five people. Rescue operations are ongoing, involving multiple agencies.

Rescue Efforts and Medical Response

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is leading the rescue efforts with several excavators deployed. Medical teams and ambulances are on-site to assist the injured. Viraj S Tidke, the officiating deputy commissioner, stated that major hospitals in the city are on alert to treat those affected. Equipment and machinery have been provided to aid the rescue operations.

Police have filed charges against the building's owners, Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh. Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek confirmed this action. He also mentioned that efforts are being made to clear the debris quickly, with lighting arrangements set up for night operations. Residents reported hearing a loud noise when the building collapsed.

Official Reactions and Community Impact

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his sorrow over the incident. He stated on X that he is in constant contact with the administration and assured that actions will be taken against those responsible. "We pray that there is no loss of life," he added, urging public cooperation with authorities.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav was present at the site, overseeing the multi-agency rescue operation. Local leaders like Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang and Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh also visited to monitor the situation. Kulwant Singh described it as an unfortunate event and noted that rescue efforts are proceeding swiftly.

Preliminary investigations suggest that digging on an adjacent plot might have caused the collapse. A gym located in the building was closed at the time, sparing some members who were not present. One gym member mentioned she avoided potential harm by skipping her session that day.

The community remains tense as rescue operations continue. Authorities have urged anyone concerned about missing family members to contact the district control room at 0172-2219506 for assistance. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about building safety standards in rapidly developing areas.