Noida Building Collapse: 3-Storey Illegal House Falls In Nagla Hukum Singh Village, 1 Dead; Dozens Feared Trapped Under Debris

A major accident occurred on Wednesday morning in Nagla Hukum Singh village, which is designated for acquisition and displacement for the second phase of the Noida International Airport. A three-storey illegal under-construction building suddenly collapsed, trapping dozens of laborers under the debris. Considering the gravity of the situation, teams from the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) have reached the spot and have commenced relief and rescue operations.

One Casualty Reported

One individual was pulled out from the debris during the rescue operation. According to sources, the victim has been identified as 22-year-old Zeeshan, son of Zahid, who is reported to have died.

Construction Was Ongoing

During the Collapse Illegal construction work was in progress at the time of the accident. Villagers reported that some laborers were working on the fourth floor, while others were removing the shuttering (formwork) from the lintel on the third floor. Since the concrete of the lintel had not fully set (cured), it collapsed as soon as the shuttering was removed. The collapse of the third-floor lintel triggered a chain reaction, bringing down the second and first floors as well.

A huge crowd gathered at the scene. (Image Source: Jagran)

Laborers engaged in construction and removing the shuttering were buried under the rubble of the three-storey house. Upon receiving the information, police and administrative teams engaged in rescue efforts. By afternoon, four laborers had been rescued, while the search for the remaining workers continues.

Greed For Compensation Behind Illegal Construction

For the second phase of the Noida International Airport, 1,181 hectares of land across six villages in Jewar has been acquired. Nagla Hukum Singh, Kuraib, and Ranhera are among the villages scheduled for displacement. Driven by the lure of double compensation and the promise of residential plots in resettlement areas, people have been carrying out illegal construction day and night in these villages.

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Dainik Jagran had previously published a series of reports highlighting these "mud palaces" being erected out of greed for compensation. However, the police and administration limited their actions to mere paperwork, such as filing FIRs and exchanging correspondence.

NDRF personnel engaged in rescue work. (Image Source: Jagran)

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