National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) workers stand as power shovels clear debris at the site of a building that collapsed in Canacona, in Goa.
At least 17 people have died and around 15 are still feared trapped under the debris of an under-construction building that collapsed in Goa at around 3 pm on Saturday. An FIR has been registered against the builders, contractor and a municipal engineer, who the police say have gone missing.
According to the police, a portion of the six-storey building, Ruby Residency, located in the Chawdi ward of Canacona town, 60 kilometres from state capital Panaji, collapsed while nearly 60 workers were working there. Over 20 people have been rescued so far. Army personnel and fire officials have been carrying out rescue operations for the past 36 hours to look for more survivors.
Locals are raising questions on whether illegalities were involved in the manner in which the building was being constructed. According to sources, the soft soil in the area was not treated before the construction began and the ground collapsed under the weight of the building.
The Town Country Planning department has ordered an inquiry to probe the cause for the collapse and whether the conditions based on which permission was given were flouted. A team from Goa Engineering College has been asked to investigate the quality of the material used.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was near Canacona on Saturday to attend a folklore festival, rushed to the site soon after the collapse. "We will not spare anyone who is found guilty of negligence," he said.
The Goa government has announced a compensation of Rs two Lakh. A helpline has also been set up by the Goa police on the following number, 7875756000.