Noida housing society's boundary wall collapse kills four, some feared trapped

As many as four people died and nine were injured after a portion of the boundary wall of a housing society in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, collapsed on Tuesday morning. Some workers are feared trapped under the rubble, officials said. All those injured were rushed to the hospital.

Ritu Maheshwari, chief executive officer of the Noida Authority, said a compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be provided by the contractor to kin of the deceased.

The incident took place at Jal Vayu Vihar in Sector 21. A police official said that rescue and relief measures have been launched. "Fire department personnel and police, including senior officers, are at the spot," he said.

Citing a reason for the collapse, the District Magistrate of Noida said, "The Noida Authority had given the contract for drainage repair work near Jal Vayu Vihar in Sector 21. We've been told that the wall collapsed when labourers were pulling out bricks."

"We received information of two deaths each (total four were reported) at a district hospital and Kailash Hospital. It is being verified," the Noida DM told news agency ANI. He said a probe will be launched into the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives following the wall collapse and directed senior officials to reach the spot immediately and continue rescue operations on war footing.

Soon after the incident, police arrested sub-contractor Gul Mohammad from Noida Sector 20 who supplied the labourers to the contractor. An FIR was registered on basis of the family's complaint, the Gautam Buddha Nagar Police was quoted as saying.