Members of rescue teams searching for survivors in debris of collapsed Ludhiana factory building
Death toll rises to three, 9 fire-fighters among 15-20 still trapped under debris
By Sanjiv Sood/Raju William
Ludhiana, November 20, 2017: With recovery of two more bodies, the tally of the dead has risen to three in the tragedy that struck a plastic factory here after its building was gutted in fire on Monday morning.
Two persons have been rescued so far even as the operations to search other survivors were continuing on war-footing from the debris of the five-storey building which had suddenly collapsed shortly after the raging fire was doused. Both injured survivors have been admitted in CMC Hospital here.
Confirming two deaths so far, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana Pradeep Agrawal told babushahi.com that the rescue teams of the Army and the NDRF succeeded in establishing contact with a survivor trapped inside. He told the rescuers about another person trapped alive.
Health Minister Brahm Mohindra during visit to fire-gutted factory
There were nine fire-fighters feared to have been trapped inside besides Laxman Dravid, a leader of Municipal Corporation employees union, added the DC.
Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, who was in Ludhiana for some function, also visited the spot and monitored the rescue operations.
Officially, there is no confirmation of the number of those trapped. It is being guessed the number could be between 15 and 20.
They got trapped as the building collapsed after they entered it to take stock of the extent of damage caused by the fire.