NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (NNN-PTI) – The death toll in a roof collapse at a crematorium, in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, rose to 23, and nearly 20 others were injured, some of them seriously, local police confirmed.
The accident took place, when the roof of a recently constructed structure collapsed, at a crematorium in Muradnagar area of Ghaziabad district, near Delhi.
“The structure, constructed about three months ago, seems inferior in quality of construction material used,” India Today TV quoted a local man as saying.
The victims were attending the last rites of a dead man, when the structure came crashing on them. Most of the dead belonged to the family of the dead man.
The roof reportedly collapsed amidst heavy rains during the day. Rescue work is completed, and the injured were admitted to a local government hospital.
State Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, announced a compensation of 200,000 Indian Rupees (about 2,730 U.S. dollars), to the families of each of the deceased. He also directed local administration officials to prepare a detailed report on the reasons of the accident.
Indian President, Ram Nath Kovind, and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed condolences over the mishap, and prayed for a speedy recovery of the injured.– NNN-PTI
