Surat building collapse: 7 bodies recovered, more feared trapped as rescue op continues

The building, which was constructed in 2016-17, was in a dilapidated condition

Surat building collapse Officials and others during a rescue operation after a building collapse in Surat on July 6, 2024 | PTI

At least seven bodies were recovered from the rubble after a six-storey residential building collapsed in Surat's Sachin area on Saturday afternoon, according to officials. More people are feared trapped in the debris.

"The search operation continued throughout the night. Seven dead bodies have been recovered," Surat Chief Fire Officer Basant Pareek told ANI.

A woman was rescued alive from the debris soon and taken to New Civil Hospital after the building collapsed on Saturday around 2.45 pm at DN Nagar society in Paligam, Sachin. NDRF and SDRF teams are leading the rescue operation as they believe four to five out of the 30 flats in the building were occupied. JCBs were used to move the rubble while rescuers had to use drilling machines to break large concret slabs.

Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said the voices of trapped victims were heard at the beginning of the rescue efforts. "When rescue work started, we heard voices of those who were trapped inside. We rescued a woman alive from the rubble and sent her to the hospital. We suspect that nearly five people are still trapped inside," Gehlot told PTI. However, the number of victims still trapped in the debris has not been confirmed.

Most of the residents of the building were labourers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar working at the local textile factories and they were outside when the collapse occurred. Labourers who were sleeping following their night shift are believed to be among the trapped. The building, which was constructed in 2016-17, was in a dilapidated condition.

Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp