Ludhiana factory collapse: Rescuers manage to save five workers; two others couldn't survive

Two workers were killed after a portion of a building of a factory in Ludhiana's Focal Point Phase 8 area collapsed on Saturday, the officials said on Sunday. The bodies of the two were pulled out during the overnight rescue operation.

Other five workers were rescued and taken to Fortis Hospital for medical attention. The Punjab state government has announced that it would cover medical expenses of the injured workers and provide compensation to families of the deceased, who have been identified as Jatinder Kumar, a worker and Gurnarinder, who worked as lab technician in the unit.

#7NDRF deployed 3 teams for SAR ops at the Ludhiana factory collapse after a PCR distress call. 4 victims have been retrieved so far, efforts continue to locate others. Our brave rescuers stay committed to saving lives.@NDRFHQ @HMOIndia @ndmaindia @ANI @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/6GLUk4pIMI
07 NDRF BATHINDA (@07NDRF) March 9, 2025

The injured have been identified as Abhilash Yadav, Ram Kishan, Sintu Thakur, Avtar Singh Kaka, Pargat Singh, Manish Chauhan, Hakim Yadav and Neeraj Kapoor.

Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal informed that the accident took place at the Kohli Dyeing Unit. The structure collapsed while JCB machines were being operated. “As per the owner of the building, 29 workers had logged in at the unit in the morning. However, when the building collapsed, seven were inside and trapped under the debris. One worker was taken out immediately while operation was launched to search and rescue the others,” he said.

According to the Deputy commissioner, three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with local police, the fire brigade, municipal corporation and factory department, were deployed at the site since Saturday night.

A case has been registered against four individuals, including Neeraj Kapoor, caretaker of Kohli dyeing, factory supervisor Teerath Lal, crane operator Avtar Singh Kaka and contractor Pargat Singh under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of BNS.

The police officials informed that Teerath Lal has been arrested while the other three accused are undergoing treatment.

“Prima facie, some sort of negligence during construction work led to the unfortunate incident. Now that the rescue is over, the focus will be on the probe,” DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja told The Indian Express.