Under-construction house roof collapse in MP claims five lives

In a devastating incident, five labourers lost their lives when the roof of an under-construction farmhouse collapsed in Choral village, Mhow, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The tragic event occurred late Thursday night, but it was not until Friday morning that villagers discovered the disaster and alerted authorities. The villagers, unable to locate the labourers, immediately informed the police of the situation.

Rescue Operation and Investigation

“The police reached the spot and found that labourers were buried under debris. The rescue work started with the help of three JCBs and a Poclain machine. During the rescue operation, which lasted for about three hours, the bodies of the five labourers were recovered,” said Hitika Vatsal, Superintendent of Police, Indore (Rural). The labourers, who had been sleeping inside the under-construction building after finishing their work on Thursday night, were tragically caught under the rubble.

A local villager revealed that the workers routinely slept inside the building after completing their tasks. On that fateful night, they had gone to sleep in the same spot after dinner, unaware of the danger looming above them.

Farmhouse Owners on the Run

The farmhouse owners, identified as Kanhaiya Lal and Bharat Demla, allegedly placed the rooftop slab on an iron pillar without providing any external support. Following the collapse, both owners are currently absconding, and the police are actively searching for them.

Government Response

In response to the tragedy, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to the families of each deceased labourer, offering some relief to the bereaved families.