10-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN DELHI BUILDING COLLAPSE

NOIDA: A 10-year-old boy was killed and three others, including two young women, were left severely injured when a portion of a three-storeyed building in Nithari village, Sector 31, collapsed on Monday evening, burying passersby under debris in the street below. The incident took place around 4.30pm.

While the deceased was identified as Luv Subba of Darjeeling, the injured were identified as Sonali and Barkha, both 18 years old, and 12-year-old Shakeel.

The owner of the house has been identified as Vijendra Awana.

According to local residents, the building, which is popularly called the ‘90 quarters’, was being pulled down for renovation for the past two months.

Locals said the building was being demolished to make way for a new one and the incident occurred when a part of the second storey collapsed and fell on the canopy of the first floor.

“That is when the canopy collapsed and its debris fell on the street and the passersby got trapped under the debris,” Omwati, a woman who lives in the neighbourhood, said, adding that the street is among the busiest in the area.

Recalling the chaos that followed the collapse, Omwati, said, “I was inside my house when, all of a sudden, the power went out and then there was a deafening noise. When I peeped out the window, I saw people running around in panic and a mound of debris in the street.”

According to the police, four bodies were pulled out from under the rubble—two girls and two boys. Police officials said the debris is being removed, though it doesn’t seem that anyone else would be trapped inside.

“The injured have been admitted to a hospital. The debris is being cleared and the situation is under control. The incident will be investigated thoroughly,” Noida senior superintendent of police Vaibhav Krishna said.

The boys were taken to the district hospital where 12-year-old Shakeel was discharged after being administered first aid. But 10-year-old Luv Subba, hailing from Darjeeling, succumbed to his injuries. The two severely injured 18-year-old girls were taken to the Noida Medical Centre where they are currently receiving medical treatment.