By IANS
Chandigarh : At least two people were killed and over a dozen injured after a 50-metre long concrete rooftop collapsed Sunday in a vegetable market, one of the busiest of its kind in north India, even as an army team joined in rescue efforts.
Chandigarh's Home Secretary Krishna Mohan, who rushed to the spot with senior officers, confirmed the death of two people. The two victims, aged around 25 and 35 years, remained unidentified.
Police officials at the spot had earlier told reporters four people had died in the tragedy.
Two injured people were admitted to the PGIMER hospital here were stated to be in critical condition.
Administration officials said that 13 people were rescued and rushed to hospital. Those with minor injuries were discharged later.
The administration announced a compensation of Rs.200,000 to the kin of those dead and Rs.50,000 to those injured seriously.
Police teams and ambulance vans were rushed to the grain and vegetable market in Sector 26 after the roof came down around 4.30 p.m.
A massive rescue operation was launched by the Chandigarh administration's fire, police and other departments to save those trapped.
The civil administration sought help from the army authorities at the nearby Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir.
The rescue operation was continuing past 9 p.m.
Police control room reports initially suggested that over 200 people were trapped under the collapsed roof. But later officials said around 50 people were trapped.
The roof was constructed in 1970 and was being maintained by the committee of the grain, fruit and vegetable market.
The home secretary said that an enquiry would be conducted into the accident.
The vegetable market remains very busy on Sunday, especially in the evening.
Senior civil and police officials went to the spot to supervise rescue operations. Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, who is the local MP, also visited the spot.
Several cranes and evacuator machines were pressed into service to cut and remove the roof. The rescue teams were taking longer to cut through the roof so that those trapped were not harmed.
Hundreds of people from the market and also those whose relatives and friends were present in the vegetable market when the roof collapsed gathered at the spot.
"I have come to find out the whereabouts of my friend who is a wholesale potato dealer," said businessman Preet.
Family members of vegetable traders and daily wage workers at the market could be seen asking police and rescue workers regarding details of their relatives and friends even as police had to use force to push onlookers away from the spot.
Chaos prevailed as no disaster management plan of the civil administration was in sight.