Six Dead in Ambala Building Collapse, Rs 5 Lakh Aid Announced for Kin

The death toll in the three-storey under-construction building collapse in Ambala's Dhulkot village has risen to six, while three injured workers remain hospitalised, officials said.

The building collapsed on Sunday evening while construction work was underway. A rescue operation continued for nearly 20 hours, with 18 workers rescued from the debris. Two more victims were pulled out late Sunday night and later declared dead.

The deceased included workers from Ambala and neighbouring Punjab. Their bodies have been kept at the Civil Hospital in Ambala City, where relatives staged a protest demanding action against those responsible for the collapse.

Police have registered a case against the builder, property owner and others, invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence in construction work. The allegations are being investigated.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the family of each deceased worker.

State Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij visited the injured at the Civil Hospital on Monday and spoke with the Haryana DGP, seeking the formation of a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Vij said the SIT should investigate the entire incident and determine responsibility. He also raised concerns over unauthorised colonies and alleged construction violations, claiming that complaints about the building had previously been made to municipal authorities.

According to officials, three injured workers are still undergoing treatment, while the remaining injured have been discharged.

The incident has also triggered demands for accountability from opposition leaders. Congress MP Varun Chaudhary and Ambala City MLA Nirmal Singh met the affected families and sought justice for the victims.

The SIT probe is expected to examine the construction process, alleged safety lapses, approvals and the role of officials responsible for monitoring such structures.