Meerut: At least four people were killed and three others injured when a building collapsed during an anti-encroachment drive in Meerut Cantonment area of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.
Locals protested the anti-encroachment drive after the deaths of the 4 people. They alleged that the authorities began the demolition without even vacating the complex.
Rescue operation is underway as at least six other persons are feared trapped under the debris. A 42-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was rushed to the spot to rescue the people and control the situation.
#WATCH Moment of the fall - building falls during an anti-encroachment drive in Meerut Cantonment (UP), 4 killed.https://t.co/ZKyZAAV9Et
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 9, 2016
But according to Meerut Cantonment Board's Assistant Engineer, Piyush Gautam, "a prior notice was sent to its occupants to vacate the building as it had been illegally built. The area was marked for demolition and the timing of 3 am was decided."
"We even gave three more hours to the occupants to take out their belonging and began the demolition at 6 am only," he claimed.
According to officials, the building was a disputed property and the High Court had ordered its demolition.
Meanwhile, family members of the deceased have registered a police complaint against the officials of the Board. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.
