Rescuers in Surat have concluded their efforts after retrieving seven bodies from the debris of a collapsed six-storey building in Sachin Pali village. The tragic incident occurred amidst heavy rains, leaving 15 others injured and prompting an overnight search operation to ensure no residents remained trapped.
Chief Fire Officer Basant Pareek confirmed to ANI that the last body was recovered at 6 am, marking the end of the rescue operation. The collapse, which took place around 2:45 pm on Saturday, also resulted in the miraculous rescue of a woman from under the rubble.
Constructed illegally in 2017, the building housed only five families despite having 30 apartments, with residents paying ₹1,200 per month in rent. Most of the flats were vacant and in a dilapidated condition, though five were occupied by workers from nearby factories.
Commissioner of Police, Surat, Anupam Gehlot, described chaotic scenes as locals rushed to aid those trapped. “When rescue work started, we heard the cries of those who were trapped. We rescued a woman from the rubble and sent her to hospital,” he stated.
The collapse occurred when many residents were away at work, but those working night shifts were unfortunately inside. Rescue efforts involved cutting through concrete slabs to reach survivors, with the NDRF and SDRF teams working tirelessly through the night.
Earlier reports suggested up to 6-7 people might have been trapped; however, authorities expressed relief that no more residents were found under the debris during the final stages of the operation.
Sources By Agencies