This Article is From Jan 05, 2014

Goa building collapse: 14 killed, many feared trapped; FIR registered against builder and contractor

Goa building collapse: 14 killed, many feared trapped; FIR registered against builder and contractor

Rescue workers stand amid the debris of a building that collapsed in Canacona, Goa on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

Panaji: At least 14 workers died, many were injured and more than a dozen are feared trapped under the debris of an under-construction building that collapsed in Canacona town, 60 kilometres from state capital Panaji, on Saturday.

The police said a portion of the three-storey building, Ruby Residency, located in the Chawdi ward of Canacona, collapsed while over 50 people were working at the site.

The Army has been called in for relief and rescue work. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that an FIR has been registered against the builder and the contractor. The construction was being carried out by a Navi Mumbai-based real estate development firm, Bharat Developers and Realtors Pvt. Ltd.

"Eleven bodies have been extracted. Thirteen injured workers have been shifted to various hospitals depending on the seriousness of their injuries. But there are at least a dozen or more trapped under the debris," an official said.

Officials from police, health and fire service departments are using gas cutters and cranes to get to the trapped workers.

Mr Parrikar, who visited the site, said even as rescue work was going on, police was asked to get cracking and nab those prima facie responsible for the accident.

"An FIR has been filed against the builder, contractor and the municipal engineer in-charge. We will not spare anyone," Mr Parrikar said.
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