Roof collapse kills five labourers

LUDHIANA: Five labourers died and 12were injured when a roof collapsed in a house undergoing renovation in HiraVihar Colony, Subhash Nagar, in Basti Jodhewal on Thursday. Police have bookedthe contractor, Mohammad Nazir, and the house���s owner, Bathinda residentSurinder Kumar, under Section 304 (A) (causing death due to negligence) of theIndian Penal Code. The incident occurred at around 6.30am.Thirty-two labourers were involved in the work for renovating the 150 sq yardhouse. The labourers were in the middle of a procedure to raise theroof by a foot-and-a-half using specialized jacks. Sources said asthe roof had already been raised by two feet once, its balance could not bemaintained when the procedure was being carried out, causing it to collapse.Sources added that Badrul, Kareem, Mohammad Hamid and Mohammad Islamdied on the spot. Mohammad Akseer was first taken to the civil hospital andlater to Christian Medical College, where he was declared broughtdead.Of the 12 hurt labourers, six, namely Mohammad Zahid, 22,Mohammad Ayub, 54, Mohammad Wazeer, 25, Mohammad Atubin, 26, Mohammad Hisamudin,40, and Mohammad Taheed, 15, are under treatment at CMC Hospital. The other six��� Mohammad Asad, 40, Mohammad Zahid, 20, Mohammad Shahid, 16, MohammadBechan, 17, Mutu Sardar, 25, and Mohammad Safeed, 30 ��� are undergoingtreatment at Civil Hospital. Though the doctors are conducting tests on theinjured labourers, their respective conditions are said to be out ofdanger.All labourers and the contractor are residents of Kakowalarea, said sources.They added that the alertness and prompt actionby people residing in the neighbouring houses was of great help. They actedbefore administration officials and cops could arrive to rescue the injuredpersons. They were able to take the labourers to hospitals and make sure thatthe number of casualties did not rise.Meanwhile, DC Vikas Gargannounced relief of Rs 50,000 for families of the deceased labourers. Theinjured will be provided with free medical treatment.