25 Dead As Roof Collapses At Crematorium In UP

Twenty-five people have died and some are injured after roof of a crematorium in Uttar Pradesh's Muradnagar city collapsed due to rain on people who came to attend a funeral.

Of the dozens of people under the rubble, 38 have been rescued. Some people are feared trapped while the rescue operations are still on. Local police and fire department are present at the site.

Hours later, rescue workers were still going through the rubble to locate more victims, Ghaziabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja said.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been rushed to the spot.

Several people have been admitted at hospitals.

President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

मुरादनगर, गाजियाबाद स्थित श्मशान में छत गिरने की घटना अत्यन्त दुखद है I मृतकों के परिवार जन को मेरी शोक संवेदनाएं !
मैं प्रार्थना करता हूं कि इस दुर्घटना में आहत लोग शीघ्र स्वस्थ हों I स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत और सहायता हेतु कार्यरत है I

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 3, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the accident.

उत्तर प्रदेश के मुरादनगर में हुए दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण हादसे की खबर से अत्यंत दुख पहुंचा है। राज्य सरकार राहत और बचाव कार्य में तत्परता से जुटी है। इस दुर्घटना में जान गंवाने वालों के परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना प्रकट करता हूं, साथ ही घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

The chief minister directed officials to give financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each of the victims, a statement issued by the state government said.

The chief minister also directed the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut and ADG Meerut zone to submit a report in this connection. 

With Inputs from PTI