Meerut: 4 killed after a building collapse during demolition drive

Four people have reportedly been killed and five others injured after being buried under the rubble when a building collapsed during an anti-encroachment drive in Meerut Cantonment on 8 July.

According to some reports, the incident occurred when Bungalow no 210 was demolished by the Cantonment Board authorities during an anti-encroachmemt drive.

Local media reported that the building was an illegal construction and alleged that the authorities conducted the demolition drive even before people left the building.

Another report added that the authorities directed the bulldozer towards the building much before people could vacate the complex, leaving several buried under the debris.

Following the chaos, the authorities reportedly fled the scene.

Acting District Magistrate Dinesh Chand has ordered city magistrate Keshav Kumar to submit an magisterial enquiry report in 15 days.

A complaint has been registered under section 302 (punishment for murder), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC in Sadar Bazar police station against Rajeev Shrivastav (CEO, Cantt Board Meerut), Anuj Singh (Executive Engineer), Piyush Gautam (Assistant Engineer), Yogesh Yadav, Arvind Gupta and Avdesh Yadav, reported India Today.

Executive engineer of the Meerut Cantonment Board, Anuj Singh, was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on 11 July. Piyush Gautam has also been arrested.