At least seven bodies have been recovered from the debris of a six-storey residential building in Sachin Pali village, which collapsed after days of incessant rain. The building, which housed 30 flats, had five of them occupied at the time of the incident, according to fire department officials.
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday around 2.45 pm. Chief Fire Officer Basant Pareek informed the news agency ANI that the search operation continued throughout the night, with the seventh body being pulled out at 6 am on Sunday. Despite ongoing efforts, rescuers believe no more residents remain trapped under the debris. “When rescue work started, we heard cries from those trapped. We managed to rescue a woman and sent her to the hospital,” Pareek said.
Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), worked tirelessly overnight, cutting through large concrete slabs to reach and extricate trapped individuals. On Saturday, a woman was rescued from the rubble, and 15 others were injured during the collapse.
The building, constructed in 2017, housed five families at the time of the collapse. According to police, many residents were at work during the incident, while others, particularly those on night shifts, were sleeping inside. “Earlier, senior police officials had estimated that around 6-7 people were still trapped under the rubble, with rescue operations underway to free them,” said Anupam Gehlot, Commissioner of Police in Surat. “We can hear their voices from inside the rubble. They will be rescued soon.”
Local residents described a scene of chaos following the sudden collapse. Many rushed to assist in the rescue efforts. Anupam Gehlot added, “The building, despite being only eight years old, had many vacant and dilapidated flats. Most occupants were factory workers in the area.”
The collapse has left the community in shock, questioning the integrity of the building’s construction. As investigations begin to uncover the cause of this tragic event, the immediate focus remains on providing support to the affected families and ensuring that those injured receive the necessary medical care.