2 dead, 8 injured as three storey building collapses in Rajasthan’s Kota

At least two people were killed and eight others injured after a three-storey building collapsed in Rajasthan’s Kota on Saturday night, triggering a massive rescue operation in the Talwandi area, officials said on Sunday.A total of 15 people were pulled out from the debris following hours of search and rescue efforts. Of the injured, eight are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, while five were discharged after being given primary medical care.The deceased have been identified as Aryan (20) and Lakshman (15), officials said.
Confirming the casualties, Cabinet Minister Heeralal Nagar said an investigation would be ordered to ascertain the cause of the collapse. “In total, 15 people were taken out of the debris. While two have died, some of the injured were discharged after treatment. A probe will be ordered to ascertain the facts, and action will follow,” Nagar told reporters.Divisional Commissioner Anil Agarwal said preliminary information suggests that ongoing construction activity in the neighbourhood may have weakened the structure. “Some new construction work was going on nearby, which might have caused the building to collapse,” he said, adding that a detailed inquiry would establish responsibility.
Officials said a restaurant was operating from the building at the time of the incident, and several customers and employees were present when the structure gave way suddenly. Panic gripped the area as local residents rushed to help, while police, fire services and disaster response teams were mobilised.Rescue operations continued late into the night as teams cleared the rubble and searched for survivors. The site was later secured to prevent further mishaps, and nearby buildings were inspected as a precautionary measure.