Ambala, Haryana: Six workers were killed and several others injured after a three-storey under-construction building collapsed in Dhulkot village near Ambala City on Sunday, September 27, while a concrete roof slab was being cast on the third floor.
The collapse occurred at around 3 pm, trapping workers beneath the debris and prompting an overnight rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire services and district administration teams.
Initial reports put the death toll at two before it rose to four and then six as rescuers recovered additional bodies from the rubble. At least 13 workers were pulled out and taken to Ambala City Civil Hospital, with some injured workers later discharged and others continuing to receive treatment.
Civil Surgeon Renu Berry said 12 injured workers had been brought to the hospital, while the latest reports said four injured workers remained under treatment.
Ambala Superintendent of Police Ajit Singh Shekhawat said the cause of the collapse and the legality of the construction would be investigated, with ownership and construction-related documents being verified. He said legal action would follow if unauthorised construction or negligence was established.
Collapse During Roof Work
The incident took place while labourers were working on the third-floor lintel of the building. According to police and local reports, around 35 to 40 workers were reportedly present at the construction site when the structure suddenly gave way. Portions of the top, middle and first floors collapsed, leaving several workers trapped under concrete, steel reinforcement and other debris.
Local residents were among the first to reach the site and began helping with rescue efforts before emergency teams arrived. Police, ambulances, fire personnel and district administration officials were subsequently deployed, while heavy earth-moving machinery was brought in to clear the rubble. NDRF and SDRF personnel joined the operation as authorities feared that more workers could still be trapped.
Ambala SP Ajit Singh Shekhawat said the rescue operation would continue until the site had been thoroughly searched. In an earlier update, he said, “The top, middle and first floors of the building partially collapsed,” adding that more workers were suspected to be trapped and that the rescue operation would continue overnight. He also said that the reasons for the collapse, along with the building’s documents, would be examined after the rescue operation.
The human toll became clearer as the rescue operation progressed. Four workers were initially declared dead after 13 people were rescued and taken to the Civil Hospital in Ambala City. The deceased were identified as Rajinder Kumar, 50, from Sonta village in Ambala; Kalia Ram, 48, and Shastri Ram, 50, from Uttar Pradesh; and Roop Singh, 55, from Punjab. Two more workers later died, taking the toll to six.
Questions Over Construction Safety
The collapse has also raised questions about the building’s construction and whether the required approvals were in place. Officials had not immediately established whether the structure had been approved by the Ambala City Municipal Corporation. Police and the district administration began collecting information related to the land, building and ownership as part of the investigation.
The exact reason why the structure failed remains under investigation. Officials have not attributed the collapse to any particular construction defect, material failure or safety lapse. This distinction is important as the accident happened while the third-floor roof slab was being cast, but the timing alone does not establish what caused the building to collapse.
Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta said officials were collecting all relevant details and that action would be taken if negligence was established, including if any official was found responsible for lapses. SP Shekhawat similarly said the legality of the construction and the circumstances leading to the collapse would be investigated. According to the latest UNI report, Shekhawat said legal action would be taken if unauthorised construction or negligence was found.
The incident also highlights the vulnerability of construction workers, many of whom work at sites where structural activity is taking place around them. In this case, workers were carrying out roof-related work when the building itself gave way, turning an ordinary working day into a rescue emergency.
The early reporting also illustrates how casualty figures can change during a major rescue operation. Initial reports on Sunday said two people had died and that 15–20 people might be trapped, although officials cautioned that the number was only an estimate. Later, 13 workers were confirmed rescued, while the death toll increased as rescuers recovered more bodies.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Ambala building collapse is a painful reminder that construction workers should never have to choose between earning a livelihood and working in a safe environment. Six families have now lost loved ones, while other workers and their families are dealing with injuries, uncertainty and the consequences of an accident whose cause is still being investigated.
At this stage, accountability should be based on evidence: authorities must establish how the collapse happened, verify whether the building had the required approvals and determine whether any safety or construction rules were violated.
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