Three dead in Anuppur lodge collapse, CM announces aid
The death toll in a lodge collapse in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district has risen to three, with several injured. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the Chief Minister has announced compensation while authorities probe negligence behind the incident
Anuppur (MP): The death toll in the collapse of a four-storey lodge in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district has risen to three, with three others seriously injured, a police official said on Sunday.
Relief and rescue operations by agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are ongoing at the site in Kotma town, as some persons are still feared trapped under the debris, he said.
He said the injured have been sent to Shahdol for better treatment.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief and announced Rs 9 lakh as compensation for the kin of each deceased, and Rs 2.5 lakh each for the injured.
Anuppur Collector Harshal Pancholi said that seven persons were pulled out of the debris overnight, of which three died.
Officials said the building, called ‘Aggarwal Lodge’, near the Kotma bus stand, collapsed around 5.30 pm on Saturday. Eyewitnesses reported a loud noise as the structure crashed, sending a cloud of dust across the area.
The bus stand area was teeming with commuters at the time of the incident, and construction work was underway on a nearby plot of land, they said.
Anuppur Superintendent of Police (SP) Moti Ur Rahman said the deceased persons have been identified as Hanuman Deen Yadav (55), Ramkripal Yadav (50) and Radha Kaul (45).
Of the four injured persons, three are in critical condition, and they have been referred to Shahdol for advanced care, the SP said.
He said that the rescue teams, including NDRF personnel, conducted an overnight operation, and the search is continuing to rescue anyone trapped in the debris.
Rahman said a case has been registered against the lodge owner and the owner of the adjacent plot under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 106 (A), which concerns causing death by negligence.
The official said a deep pit being dug in the adjacent plot destabilised the foundation of the 10-year-old lodge, causing the building to collapse. The fatal accident occurred as safety standards were completely ignored, he said.
In a post on X on Sunday, the chief minister said, “I have given instructions to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Voluntary Grant, Rs 4 lakh each under the Sambal Yojana, and Rs 1 lakh each from the Red Cross to the families of the citizens who died in the tragic accident in Kotma yesterday.” He said the injured will also receive Rs 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Voluntary Grant and Rs 50,000 each from the Red Cross.
Yadav said, “The state government stands with the affected families. I pray for the peace of the departed and the speedy recovery of the injured.” Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister and Minister in-charge of Anuppur district, Dilip Ahirwar, and Cottage and Village Industries Minister Dilip Jaiswal reached the site late Saturday night and, along with senior officials, monitored the relief and rescue operations.
Ahirwar told reporters that every aspect of the accident will be investigated, and action will be taken against those responsible.
He said that the state government’s priority is to safely rescue those trapped in the debris and provide them with proper treatment.