In a tragic incident in Mohali’s Sohana village, a building collapsed on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Local police arrested Gagandeep Singh, the co-owner of the building, on Monday. Singh, 31, hails from Chaumajra village. Earlier, his partner, Parvinder Singh, also of Chaumajra, was apprehended on Sunday. Both individuals were presented in court and sent to five days of police custody.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) City-2, HS Bal, confirmed the arrests and mentioned that the police are also planning to arrest Suresh Kumar, the construction contractor, who is also involved in the case. “We will take strict action against all those responsible for this tragedy,” DSP Bal said.
Cause of the Collapse
According to police reports, the collapse was triggered by excavation work at an adjacent plot, which was also owned by Gagandeep Singh. The excavation, which began on Friday evening, was carried out without proper precautions or permission from the Mohali Municipal Corporation. Authorities believe the excavation caused the land to sink, weakening the structure of the building and leading to its collapse.
The accused have been charged under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Gagandeep Singh, who had also been elected as a panch in the recent panchayat elections, faces serious charges as the investigation continues.
Rescue Operation and Casualties
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) report confirmed that two people were trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building. A 23-hour rescue operation took place, with teams working relentlessly to recover the victims. The deceased were identified as Abhishek Dhanwal, 30, from Ambala, and Drishti Verma, 20, from Theog in Himachal Pradesh.
Abhishek, who had initially rushed out of the building after being warned by a nearby shopkeeper, Salman, who noticed the structure tilting, went back inside to retrieve his mobile phone. Unfortunately, he was unable to escape in time as the building collapsed. Drishti Verma, who was sleeping in her rented accommodation, also perished in the disaster. Her cousin, Sakshi, had left for her hometown before the incident.
Investigation Underway
The Mohali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Damandeep Kaur, has been assigned to oversee the investigation and is expected to submit her report within three weeks. The investigation will focus on the role of the accused in the tragedy and assess the illegal excavation work that contributed to the collapse.
Local authorities have promised to take stringent action against those found responsible, ensuring that justice is served for the victims of this heart-wrenching incident.
As the investigation progresses, the residents of Mohali are grappling with the consequences of a preventable tragedy, while families of the deceased mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Sources By Agencies
