3 killed, many feared trapped as buildings collapse in Greater Noida; three held

Noida (UP): At least three persons were killed and several others trapped under the debris as two adjacent buildings collapsed in Greater Noida, officials said on Wednesday.
A six-storey under-construction building fell on an adjacent building in Shah Beri village under the Bisrakh police station on Tuesday night.
The second building also collapsed under the impact. At least 12 labourers were in the under-construction building on the outskirts of Delhi when the incident took place and all of them were feared trapped, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Arun Kumar Singh said.
Two bodies were pulled out of the rubble late last night, while another body was pulled out this morning, he added as the rescue operations continued into the day.
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.
A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the incident, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said. Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, Ram Kumar said the owner of the land, Gangashankar Dwivedi, and two others — Dinesh and Sanjay — were arrested. Taking note of the incident, Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate (DM) Brajesh Narayan Singh ordered a probe, seeking a report within 15 days. “A magisterial probe has been ordered into the reasons behind the incident. Additional District Magistrate (administration) Kumar Vineet has been asked to carry out the probe. He will submit his report within 15 days,” the order said.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were assisting the police personnel and fire-fighters in the rescue operations, the CFO said.
Those involved in the rescue operations were facing difficulties because of the narrow lanes in the area and a huge crowd that had gathered there, he added. Drills are being used to remove metal rods to reach those trapped under the debris and a dog squad has also been pressed into service. (PTI)