3 dead, 7 injured as factory roof collapses in Punjab; rescue underway

Three people died and seven were injured when the roof of a factory collapsed at Baba Mukand Singh Nagar on Monday, officials said

Three people died and seven were injured when the roof of a factory collapsed at Baba Mukand Singh Nagar here on Monday, officials said.

Forty people, mostly labourers, were rescued from the site. Of the injured, the condition of three were stated to be critical, officials said, adding efforts were on to find out where more people were trapped under the debris.

"The factory owner was lifting the lintel level without permission of the municipal corporation," Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma said.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and civic body were undertaking the rescue operations.

One person was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Another was found dead under the debris, while the third person succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, officials said.

A case has been registered against the factory owner and the contractor, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal said.