Building collapse in Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government forms three-member panel to investigate incident

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday formed a three-member committee to investigate the building collapse in Lucknow that left eight people dead. The committee, headed by a home secretary, was formed on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Members of the Committee of Inquiry

• Chairman: Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Home Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
• Member: Balkar Singh, Secretary, Housing and Town Planning Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
• Member: Vijay Kanaujia, Chief Engineer (Central Region), Public Works Department, Lucknow.

“The investigative committee is expected to investigate the cause of the incident and submit its report to the government as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Eight people were killed and 28 others injured when a three-storey building collapsed in Lucknow's Transport Nagar area on Saturday evening.

Police file charges against owner

Police have arrested the owner of the three-storey building that collapsed a day ago. Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Verma said a police team is investigating the case and the accused will be arrested soon.

A senior police official said a complaint has been filed against Rakesh Singhal, the owner of the Harmilap building in Transport Nagar area of ​​the city. The building collapsed on Saturday night, triggering a massive rescue operation. Eight people were killed and 28 others injured in the incidents.

The FIR against Singhpal was filed at Sarojini Nagar police station here on the complaint of MK Singh, in-charge of Transport Nagar police outpost, officials said.

The accused was charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 115 (2) (intentional causing hurt), 105 (intentional killing not amounting to murder) and 110 (attempted killing).

(With PTI inputs)/Vishal Singh