Gomti Nagar porch collapse claims life of Barabanki man
LUCKNOW, July 26 -- A porch of a corporate building collapsed after Friday's downpour, claiming the life of a 24-year-old Barabanki resident, near Indira Gandhi Pratishthan crossing, in Vibhuti Khand area.
The deceased, Ravi Verma, 24, had reportedly come to meet an acquaintance working in an office inside the building. As the rain intensified, he took shelter near the entrance of the complex. Moments later, a section of the balcony located above the main entrance fell on him.
Verma was rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) where doctors declared him dead, confirmed the institute's media spokesperson Bhuvan Chandra Tiwari.
People associated with the complex claimed that the building, which is over a decade old and houses several commercial establishments, was in urgent need of structural repairs.
Meanwhile, the police have sealed the area and are collecting CCTV footage and statements from witnesses to ascertain negligence. A case of negligence causing death is likely to be registered after the preliminary inquiry, police said.
Verma's friend Brijesh, who was with him at the time, recounted the terrifying moments. "The porch started shaking, and within seconds, it came crashing down. We all ran. I grabbed Ravi's hand and tried to pull him, but I couldn't hold on."
Brijesh said security guards at the building didn't come forward to help.
The management company of the facility has blamed unauthorised construction work by a private bank for the incident.
In a complaint to the police, Shadaf Aziz, manager, MPDL Facility Management Services, alleged that structural modifications were being carried out recklessly without informing or coordinating with the building's maintenance team.
However, Vibhuti Khand SHO Sunil Kumar Singh said that while the complaint is being looked into, a formal FIR is yet to be lodged....
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