Mohali, 24 December 2024: Police have arrested both co-owners of the building that collapsed in Mohali’s Sohana village on Saturday, claiming two lives. Gagandeep Singh, 31, a resident of Chaumajra village, was apprehended on Monday, following the arrest of his partner Parvinder Singh on Sunday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) City-2 HS Bal revealed that both suspects have been sent to five days of police custody. “We’ve also named construction contractor Suresh Kumar in the case and are working to arrest him. Those responsible for this unfortunate incident will face strict legal action,” he said.
Preliminary investigations suggest excavation on an adjacent plot, also owned by the arrested duo, led to the building collapse. Officials said the digging, which began late Friday night, lacked safety measures and municipal approval. The accused have been charged under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Gagandeep Singh, notably, was recently elected as a panch in the local elections.
The investigation has been assigned to Mohali Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Damandeep Kaur, who has been tasked with submitting a report within three weeks.
Rescue Operations and Victims
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirmed that only two individuals were trapped under the debris, concluding a 23-hour rescue mission. The deceased were identified as 30-year-old Abhishek Dhanwal of Ambala and 20-year-old Drishti Verma of Theog, Himachal Pradesh.
Witness accounts shed light on the tragedy. Salman, a shopkeeper nearby, raised an alarm after noticing the building leaning, prompting Abhishek and others to evacuate.
However, Abhishek re-entered to retrieve his mobile phone and could not escape in time. Drishti, who was asleep in her rented room, also could not evacuate. Her cousin Sakshi, who usually stayed with her, had left for their hometown shortly before the collapse.
Authorities are investigating the case, focusing on negligence in construction practices and unauthorized excavation, to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.
