Death toll rises to 10, financial aid announced for victims' families

Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) [India]September 15 (ANI): The death toll in the tragic building collapse in Meerut has risen to 10. District Magistrate Deepak Meena announced that financial assistance of Rs 400,000 per dead person and Rs 120,000 for reconstruction will be provided to the families of the victims.

Deepak Meena said, “The postmortem of the deceased is underway and the bodies will soon be handed over to their families. Financial assistance of Rs 400,000 per deceased from the disaster fund and Rs 120,000 for reconstruction of the completely destroyed houses is being arranged. Compensation for the animals killed in the incident is also being processed.” He further stated that on September 14, at around 4.30 pm, a three-storey concrete house in Zakir Colony under Lohianagar police station area in Meerut district suddenly collapsed due to heavy rains.

“As soon as the information came, the district administration, police, fire department, medical department and municipal corporation started relief and rescue operations to rescue those trapped under the rubble. SDRF teams from Amroha and Saharanpur and NDRF team from Ghaziabad were called for the rescue operation. Family members reported that 15 people were inside the house. After rescue efforts, 10 were confirmed dead while 5 were found alive,” he added.

Among the ten dead were eight women and two men.

A senior police official confirmed that the building collapse has claimed 10 lives, with five people currently receiving treatment in hospital. The scene has been cordoned off and search and rescue operations are underway to ensure no survivors remain trapped in the rubble.

The injured are being treated in hospital and the bodies of the deceased have been sent for further medical treatment, including post-mortem. (ANI)