Roof of under-construction complex collapses in Chikalthana, Sambhajinagar; workers feared trapped

The first-floor roof of a new commercial complex under construction on Jalna Road, near the weekly market in Chikalthana in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, collapsed suddenly at around 6 pm on October 29. Following the collapse, it was feared that five to six workers may be buried under the debris.

Two people were injured in the incident. They are Ankush Santaram Kamble (35) and Ashfaq S. K. Kadu (23). Both have been admitted to the district hospital.

Fire department chief Ashok Khandekar said in preliminary information that more people could be trapped. The construction is on Jalna Road, next to the Dwarkadas Shyamkumar clothing showroom.

It was said that roof casting work was under way at the site on Thursday. After work ended in the evening, the iron pipes erected on the parapet of a well to support the roof bent. This made part of the roof sag, and then the entire roof suddenly came down. The incident caused panic in the area.

On receiving the news, a fire department vehicle, officers and personnel reached the spot. At around 7.45 pm, debris clearance began with the help of machines such as a JCB and a crane. However, it was night and the power was also cut for some time, which hampered the rescue work. Once power returned, clearance resumed and continued late into the night.

It is feared that five to six workers are buried, whereas the fire department had initially said one person was trapped. Department staff were clearing the debris on a war footing late into the night.

Clearing the debris will take time. Whether anyone else is buried under it will be known only after all of it has been removed.