Chandigarh: Two persons were killed and five others injured when a two-storey building collapsed in Industrial Area Phase 2 on Saturday evening. The deceased are Tarun Jain and Tarun Kaushik. Both belonged to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and were related.Rescue teams extricated them from the rubble at 9:30pm, after a five hour long operation. By 9:45pm, the operation was complete. Investigators said that Tarun Jain and his partner Tarun Kaushik had rented the building only days ago and were engaged in renovation work. They planned to open a motorcycle dealership. The injured — Umesh, Kuldeep, Kulvir, Ajit and Rahul — were admitted in GMCH-32. Police said their condition is stable.Survivor Umesh told the police that they felt tremors around 4:30pm before the roof suddenly caved in. He sustained minor injuries. Police teams, firefighters and ambulances reached the site soon after receiving information. Five labourers were rescued and taken to hospital.Later, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the operation. A JCB was used to remove the lintel, allowing air to reach those trapped. Officials said the building was around 50 years old and undergoing renovation. Preliminary findings suggest the roof collapse was caused by structural weakness. Mayor Saurabh Joshi and UT administration officials visited the site and reviewed the rescue efforts.Police have kept the victims’ body at the mortuary for autopsy. Further investigation is underway. Residents in the area said the structure had been in poor condition for years. Authorities are now examining whether safety norms were followed during the renovation. The role of the building owners and contractors will also be scrutinised. Officials said a survey of similar structures may be undertaken to prevent future accidents. The collapse caused panic in the locality, with crowds gathering as rescue teams worked through the evening. Police maintained order and ensured ambulances had clear access. By late night, the site was cleared and debris removed. Meanwhile, UT administration officials said that a drive would be launched to check structural safety of buildings.
