Building collapse in Kannauj: 28 workers evacuated safely, rescue operation suspended

All 28 employees trapped after collapse of an under-construction building at Kannauj railway stationwere pulled out by rescue teams on Sunday morning, after which the 16-hour operation was interrupted.

According to railway authorities, all the rescued workers were taken to hospital for treatment and no fatalities were reported.

On Saturday, January 11, in the afternoon, the formwork collapsed in a building under construction at the station, trapping workers. After the incident, a rescue operation was launched in which employees of national and state rescue services and railways participated.

District Magistrate Shubhrant Kumar Shukla visited the spot early on Sunday morning and expressed relief that no one was killed in the tragic incident.

CCTV footage has appeared online, showing a worker trying to repair the formwork (a temporary structure used to support concrete) after the roof collapsed. Footage shows that the beam carried by the worker hit the formwork, causing it to slip and ultimately collapse.

After the incident, the North Eastern Railway (NER) formed a three-member committee to investigate the cause of the collapse. The committee will include Chief Planning and Design Engineer, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Izzatnagar) and Chief Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force.

The construction was carried out under the Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Transformation (AMRUT), which aims to expand the infrastructure of Kannauj Railway Station.

NER officials announced compensation for injured workers: Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries and up to Rs 2.5 lakh for those with serious injuries.

(With PTI inputs)