2 dead, Army personnel among 14 feared trapped after ‘dhaba’ collapses in Solan

At least two people died and 14, including several Army jawans, are feared trapped after a three-storey ‘dhaba’ (hotel) collapsed due to heavy rains in Himachal Pradeh’s Solan on Sunday afternoon, according to reports. Initial reports suggest around 30 soldiers and seven civilians were present in the building when the incident took place. So far, 18 Army personnel and five civilian have been rescued. The Army soldiers had halted at the restaurant to have lunch. 

The Indian Army has been called for rescue operation and four people have been rescued till now, he said. The Army personnel from Dagshai Cantonment rescued four people who sustained multiple injuries, the official said, adding that they were admitted to the nearby Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital.

The building, which housed a restaurant, located on the Nahan-Kumarhatti road, collapsed amidst heavy rains in the area, a district official said. The trapped people reportedly include some Army personnel and their family members who were on their way to Uttarakhand and had stopped at the restaurant for lunch, the official said.

District officials have reached the spot after receiving the information and rescue work is underway, he added.

Director-cum-Special Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management DC Rana said "total 25 persons were on the spot. It is raining heavily. A team of the NDRF from Panchkula is reaching the spot".

Himachal Pradesh: 10 people rescued from the debris of a building in Kumarhatti that collapsed today. Director cum Special Secretary Revenue & Disaster Management DC Rana, says, "total 25 persons were on the spot. It is raining heavily. NDRF team from Panchkula moving"

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2019

Deputy Commissioner KC Chaman told the media that a rescue operation was on to save the people still trapped inside, adding that the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

सोलन के समीप कुमारहट्टी में एक निजी होटल ढहने की अति दुःखद सूचना मिली है। इसमें 40 के करीब लोगों के दबे होने की आशंका है।

राहत कार्य में NDRF की टीम सहित स्थानीय प्रशासन जुटा हैं । अभी तक 19 लोग सुरक्षित निकाल लिए हैं।

लोगों को सुरक्षित बचाने के हरसंभव प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं।

— Jairam Thakur (@jairamthakurbjp) July 14, 2019

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur also took to Twitter to inform about the incident.  

(With PTI inputs)