AHMEDABAD: A six-story building collapsed on Saturday amidst prolonged heavy rainfall, potentially trapping several individuals under the debris. Rescue officials reported that one woman has been rescued alive, while 15 others have sustained injuries.
According to news agency ANI, a body was recovered from the rubble, while efforts to search for other possible survivors trapped continue.
The scene depicted the grim remnants of the building, erected just eight years ago, now reduced to a daunting heap of massive concrete slabs. Concerns escalated as the building's sudden collapse earlier today left five families inside, raising fears of additional individuals trapped beneath the concrete ruins.
A survivor recounted to local media, "Initially, it felt as though the ground was trembling, as if there had been an earthquake, until I emerged from the building and witnessed its collapse. After ensuring my family's safety—informing my wife and rescuing my child—I exited. The incident occurred around eleven in the morning."
Shubham, the sibling of a minor trapped in the rubble, said to reporters, "I heard a noise as if a hammer had struck something, but I didn't think much of it initially. Soon, I realised the building was collapsing."
As per authorities, despite its relatively young age (around eight years old) , the building was in a deteriorated state with many apartments unoccupied.
Dr. Saurabh Parghi, the District Collector of Surat, reported, "A six-story building has collapsed. We successfully rescued a woman earlier. According to the survivor, there may be four or five more individuals trapped inside. Teams from NDRF and SDRF are actively engaged in rescue operations. We remain optimistic about completing the rescue mission within the next few hours."
Surat's Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot expressed confidence that those trapped under the debris would be rescued by tonight. "We have heard their voices emanating from the rubble. We anticipate completing the rescue operation within an hour or two," he stated during the evening.