UP minister mulls policy to avert building collapse incidents

After several buildings collapsed in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Friday following heavy rainfall, state cabinet minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that a policy would be formulated to contain such incidents

"We will have to formulate a policy so that such incidents do not happen in future," Joshi, who visited the incident spot, said.

She also announced an ex-gratia for the victims and said, "Families of deceased will get Rs 4 lakhs by tonight and injured will be given Rs 50,000 and their treatment will be done for free."

Earlier in the day, a three-storey building collapsed in Ganeshganj area of Lucknow, leaving one person dead and another injured.

Three similar incidents of building collapse were also reported in Aminabad and Udaiganj and Lalkuan area following heavy rainfall.

Scores of people have died in the region in the past one month due to heavy downpour. The death toll in rain-related incidents has reached 154 since last week, while the total number of people who have sustained injuries is over 130.