The death toll in the building collapse in Lucknow climbed to eight with rescuers pulling out three more bodies from the debris.
According to the district officials, 28 people were also injured when the three-storey building housing godowns and a motor workshop collapsed in the Transport Nagar area of Lucknow on Saturday (September 7) evening.
A truck parked near the building was also crushed due to its collapse.
The dead were identified as Raj Kishore, Rudra Yadav, Jagrup Singh Sahani, Jagroop Singh, Dheeraj Gupta, Pankaj Tiwari, Arun Sonkar, and Rakesh Lakhan Pal, the Relief Commissioner's office said in a statement.
The injured people were admitted to various hospitals, including Lok Bandhu Hospital, in the district. The relief operation was still underway, with officials ensuring that no person was trapped in the debris.
"An unfortunate incident occurred here in the evening on Saturday. On receiving information, local police, district administration, NDRF and SDRF immediately began rescue operations. Injured persons were taken to the hospital and they are undergoing treatment. Some people lost their lives. This operation will continue till the last person is safely taken out," Lucknow police commissioner Amrendra Kumar Sengar said while speaking about the incident.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences to the families of the dead.
"The loss of life due to the collapse of a building in Lucknow district is extremely sad and heart-breaking. My condolences are with the grieving families of the deceased. Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and provide proper treatment to the injured. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed souls in his feet and provide speedy recovery to the injured," he said in a post X.
Defence Minister and Lucknow MP, Rajnath Singh, also took stock of the rescue operation from Lucknow's District Magistrate (DM) Suryapal Gangwar and said, "My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured."
Source: India Today