At least four workers were killed and 14 others injured after part of a cold store collapsed in Chandapur village here on Monday afternoon, officials said, as rescuers searched through the rubble for survivors.
The collapse also led to ammonia gas leaking from the facility, and efforts are being made to contain it, officials said.
“Fourteen workers were injured in the accident and are receiving treatment at SRN Hospital. Four workers died,” District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma told PTI.
Teams from the district administration, police, state disaster response force and firefighters are participating in the relief and rescue operations.
According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Jiovesh Kumar (22), Manoj alias Pilar Chaudhary (36), Masinder Kumar (19), all from Saharsa in Bihar, and Jagdish Kumar (42) from Chandapur.
Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar said that a section of the cold storage room collapsed in Chandapur under Vavamau police station area.
“The owner of the cold store is said to be a man named Ansar Ahmed, a former Samajwadi Party MLA,” he said.
“We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine when the license of this cold store was last renewed and how the license was given to a facility located in a dilapidated, ruin-like building. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible for this incident,” Jogendra Kumar said.
Kuldeep Gunawat, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Ganga Nagar, said that after the collapse, ammonia gas started leaking from the cold store, sparking panic in the area.
He added that fire brigades are at the scene to try to contain the gas leak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and announced financial assistance. $2 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and $50,000 for the injured.
Modi said in a post on the
In a post on the Hindi language website
“I have issued directions to provide financial assistance to $He added: “$2 million has been allocated to each family of those who lost their lives in this accident, and I have instructed district administration officials to immediately send the injured to the hospital to ensure that they receive appropriate medical treatment.”
