Surat Building Collapse: Seven bodies recovered; building was only 7 years old, see details

On Saturday afternoon, a five-storey building tragically collapsed in the Sachin Industrial Area of Surat city. As of Sunday morning, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of seven people, while a woman remains seriously injured. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues their rescue operations, and efforts to clear the debris are still underway.

Victims Identified

The people who lost their lives in this devastating incident have been identified as Hiraman Kewat, Abhishek Kewat, Shivpujan Kewat, Sahil, Pravesh, and Brijesh Gond. The seventh victim has not yet been identified. Kashish Sharma, who was injured in the collapse, has been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Building Constructed in 2017

The collapsed building was constructed in 2017, raising serious concerns about the quality of its construction. The fact that the entire building collapsed in just seven years points to potential flaws in the construction process and materials used.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Rescue operations are focused on the possibility that 2-3 more people may still be trapped under the debris. The first body was recovered at 9:10 pm on Saturday, followed by the second at 11:50 pm. The third body was found at 4:00 am, the fourth at 4:30 am, and three more were recovered simultaneously at 4:45 am. The final body was pulled out at 6:00 am on Sunday, according to Chief Fire Officer Basant Pareek. 

Mountain of debris had formed at the site

On Saturday, a woman was rescued from under the debris, while 15 others sustained injuries when the building collapsed around 2:45 pm. Rescuers worked tirelessly through the night, removing large concrete slabs that had formed a mountain of debris at the site. NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) workers cut through the concrete to reach the trapped residents.

Locals described the chaos that ensued following the sudden collapse, with many rushing to save those trapped under the debris. Despite the building being only 7years old, most of the flats were vacant and in a state of disrepair.

"Around five flats were occupied, mostly by those who work in factories in this area. 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," said Anupam Gehlot, Commissioner of Police, Surat.

The incident has raised questions about building safety regulations and the enforcement of construction standards. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the collapse and the responsibility of those involved in the building's construction.