The national rescue agency has joined the rescue operations in hopes of still finding people trapped alive under the rubble.
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The three-storey building is located in the Cantonment area.
“Four people were killed and six others were pulled out in injured condition”. The Chief Engineer responsible for the demolition drive was arrested for negligence.
Police have registered a criminal case against the Meerut Cantonment Board, which was carrying out the demolition drive after a state court order.
Local media reported that the shopping complex was apparently built illegally and the authorities conducted the demolition drive even before people left the building.
However, the Meerut Cantonment Board has said that it had sent a prior notice to the occupants to vacate the premises as demolition would begin early on Saturday. “The area was marked for demolition and the timing of 3 am was decided”.
The first attempt to demolish the mall was forcefully stopped as it met public protests, but the board officials returned this Saturday accompanied by police, administrative officials and army jawans.
Though officials claimed that they gave sufficient time for evacuation, locals alleged that shops and establishments adjoining the building were not warned and they were not given time to vacate the surrounding space. However, while he went inside to wake them up, they demolished the pillar on the ground floor.
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Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nagma with family members of people who got trapped under rubble after the building collapsed.
