Uttarakhand: Building collapses in Joshimath, three rescued; Rescue work continues amid fears of four people being trapped

Joshimath, symbolic picture…
– Photo: Amar Ujala

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A building collapsed on Tuesday at Helang near landslide-hit Joshimath in Chamoli district. After this accident, the SDRF team has rescued three people while some others are feared to be trapped in the debris.

#WATCH , Uttarakhand | A house collapsed in Hailang village of Joshimath development block. Seven laborers were present in the house when the incident took place, three of them have been rescued and sent to a hospital for further treatment. Rescue operation is underway.… pic.twitter.com/S1PNeHeLT3

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 15, 2023

The rescued people have been taken to the hospital while State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel are trying to evacuate others trapped in the building, Additional District Information Officer Ravindra Negi said. Four people are reportedly feared trapped inside the building but the authorities are yet to confirm this.

The accident took place late Tuesday evening on the Badrinath Highway in Helang village between Pipalkoti and Joshimath. According to the information received, a two-storey house was built near a crusher unit on the banks of the Alaknanda river. The people working in the crusher unit lived in the building that collapsed.

Landslides damaged several houses in Joshimath earlier this year and the problem has worsened since the onset of monsoon