Roof Collapse at Kannauj Railway Station: Over Two Dozen Workers Rescued, Probe Ordered

Roof Collapse at Kannauj Railway Station: A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon at Kannauj Railway Station as an under-construction building’s roof shuttering collapsed, trapping approximately two dozen workers under the debris. The collapse occurred on the second floor of the station, where construction work was underway.

Officials said at least 23 workers were injured, and six were rescued immediately and taken to the hospital. Rescue operations are still on, and the authorities are using all their resources to ensure that no one is left under the rubble.

#WATCH | Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh: An under-construction lintel collapsed at Kannauj railway station; several workers trapped

More details awaited pic.twitter.com/vqefsjtXDc

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

District Magistrate Shubhrant Kumar Shukla said, “Preliminary information suggests the roof’s under-construction shuttering gave way, leading to the collapse. Rescuing the trapped workers remains our top priority.”

Initial images from the place showed a glimpse of mayhem, with high dust clouds and broken beams accompanied by frantic rescues. As the witnesses speak, they say little time was seen between the concrete pouring and workers reacting to such an incident.

Mahesh Kumar, one worker who barely got out, tells, “It collapsed suddenly immediately after the shuttering was allowed to pour on the concrete. Everyone on that fell. I was at one edge and barely escaped.”

Rescue operations are underway by teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force. Ambulances and medical staff are on standby at the district hospital to provide immediate care.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to ensure the safe rescue of those trapped and proper medical treatment for the injured. State Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami is coordinating relief efforts with the district administration.

#WATCH | Kannauj: Uttar Pradesh Minister Asim Arun says, "Work was going on for the new terminal at Kannauj railway station, today the under-construction structure collapsed here. 23 people were rescued, 20 people received minor injuries, they are undergoing treatment. 3 people… https://t.co/nivr2uaQNE pic.twitter.com/W7ifxR8kl9

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

The North Eastern Railway (NER) has constituted a three-member high-level committee to investigate the cause of the collapse. The committee is headed by the chief engineer (planning and design), the additional divisional railway manager (Izzatnagar), and the chief security commissioner of the Railway Protection Force.

Chief Public Relations Officer Pankaj Kumar Singh said that compensation has been decided to be ₹50,000 for minor injuries and ₹2.5 lakh for serious injuries. Minister of State for Social Welfare Asim Arun said, “A thorough investigation will follow once the rescue operations are complete.”

The new terminal under construction at Kannauj railway station is a part of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The project aims to upgrade urban infrastructure in key areas. However, the sudden collapse raises questions about the safety standards of construction.

Minister Rajni Tiwari said, “Those guilty of negligence will be punished following the inquiry.”

This tragic incident sets a lesson on the importance of safety measures for large-scale construction projects. Authorities have promised accountability and the avoidance of such an incident in the future.