Several Workers Trapped After Under-Construction Roof Slab Collapses at Kannauj Railway Station

Kannauj: At least two dozen workers were feared trapped under the debris after an under-construction lintel collapsed at Kannauj Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday afternoon. 

Six workers have been rescued and rushed to the hospital, according to police sources.

Initial visuals from the site showed scenes of chaos and confusion with crowds, clouds of dust and broken beams as people tried to rescue those who had been trapped.

"According to preliminary information, the incident occurred when the under-construction shuttering of the roof collapsed," District Magistrate (DM) Shubhrant Kumar Shukl said, who rushed to the spot along with other senior officials to oversee the rescue operation.

"Our first priority is to rescue the workers who are trapped. We are using all resources at our disposal for the rescue efforts," he said.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:39 PM today, an under-construction lintel collapsed during beautification work due to a shuttering failure. The incident left five workers injured, all of whom were transported to the hospital for treatment.

VIDEO | Several Workers Trapped After Under-Construction Roof Slab Collapses at Kannauj Railway Station

UP Minister Asim Arun on Collapses at Kannauj Railway Station

Uttar Pradesh Minister Asim Arun said, "Work was going on for the new terminal at Kannauj railway station, today the under-construction structure collapsed here. 23 people were rescued, 20 people received minor injuries, and they are undergoing treatment. 3 people are seriously injured and they have been referred to Lucknow. Some more people are feared to be trapped. A rescue operation is going on"

Satyendra Pratap Singh Member of Railway Board said, “Today, under the Amrit Bharat Yojana of the railways, three stations were selected, in which Kannauj was included. An under-construction lintel has collapsed here. The administration immediately came into action and all the officers of all the areas and the local people also did the rescue work.  Further investigation is underway...”

A shaken Mahesh Kumar, one of the individuals present at the scene, shared his close call.

"Once the concrete was poured onto the shuttering, it unexpectedly collapsed. Everyone on it fell. I was standing at the edge and managed to escape," he recounted.

Yogi Adityanath Orders Immediate Action for Safe Recovery of Trapped Victims

In response to the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to prioritise the safe recovery of those trapped and ensure they receive proper medical treatment.

State Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami is coordinating with the Kannauj district administration to provide all necessary assistance for the relief operations, according to state government officials.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to the site, where intense rescue efforts are currently underway. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) were also present on the site.

Ambulances are on standby to administer first aid and transport the injured to the hospital.

The emergency ward at the district hospital has been placed on high alert, with doctors ready to respond as needed, officials confirmed.