Muradnagar roof collapse: 3 arrested, 2-member probe committee formed
A junior engineer is among those arrested. A total of 24 people have lost their lives while 17-18 others have been injured, the police said.
Three people, including a junior engineer, have been arrested after at least two dozen people were killed when the roof of a crematorium collapsed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muradnagar town, news agency ANI reported on Monday. A two-member probe committee has also been formed to investigate Sunday’s roof collapse, ANI added.
“24 people have died, 17-18 injured in Muradnagar roof collapse incident. Three peeople have been arrested on the basis of initial investigation. A two-member probe committee constituted to invetsigate the matter,” ANI quoted SP Rural, Ghaziabad, as saying. Earlier in the day, police personnel were deployed as family members of the victims held a protest.
A junior engineer is among the three persons arrested by the police.
The incident took place around 11.30am at the Ukhlarsi cremation ground when around 50 to 60 people were attending the cremation rituals of Jai Ram, who had died on Saturday night, the police said. Many of the families and the injured said they were rescued after hectic efforts that lasted till 6pm on Sunday.
“The priest at the cremation ground was speaking to us about the rituals to be performed after the cremation when the entire roof came crashing down and all of us got buried. I was standing on the outer edge so half of my body was under the debris,” Krishan Pal, the son-in-law of a 65-year-old man whose last rites were being performed when the roof of a Muradnagar cremation ground collapsed, said.
Ghaziabad Police have registered a first information report or FIR under the Indian Penal Code’s sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any act rashly or negligently as to endanger human life), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 (causing damages) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant etc).
A host of national leaders, including President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also instructed officials to provide financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to the dependents of the deceased. He has also instructed the divisional commissioner of Meerut and additional director general of police (ADGP) of the zone to submit a report regarding the incident.
