Barnala: A tragic accident in Barnala district claimed three lives early Sunday morning after a house being raised using hydraulic jacks suddenly collapsed, trapping workers inside.
The incident occurred in Farwahi village around 4:15 am when the roof slab of the structure gave way, burying four labourers who were asleep at the site. Rescue teams managed to pull out three individuals from the debris, but they were declared dead upon being taken to a nearby hospital. Efforts are still underway to locate the fourth person, who remains missing under the rubble.
Officials from the district administration and local police rushed to the scene soon after receiving information. Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, has been deployed to speed up the rescue operation.
Preliminary reports suggest that the house, owned by a local resident, was undergoing elevation work and had been mounted on hydraulic jacks for several weeks. A contractor had been assigned to carry out the process.
Locals indicated that continuous rainfall since early morning may have played a critical role in the mishap. Water seepage is believed to have weakened the foundation and supporting pillars, ultimately leading to the collapse of the structure.
Authorities have begun an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident and whether safety norms were followed during the construction activity. Rescue operations were ongoing at the time of the last reports.
