3 killed, 6 injured as dilapidated water tank collapses in Ahmedabad

A 23-year-old overhead water tank came crashing down in Bopal on Monday, killing three people and injuring six. Locals have blamed poor maintenance for the accident.

The tragedy unfolded when more than 10 people were working at a catering unit operating from a shed near the water tank. The dilapidated concrete structure hit a tree first before crushing the shed, said officials.

The injured have been admitted to Sola Civil Hospital, where three of them are in a critical condition, said doctors.

Officials from the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service said a woman alerted them around 11.30 am about a collapsed water tank near Tejas school. Authorities pressed seven fire tenders and 40 firemen to rescue those trapped under the debris.

Rajesh Bhatt, Additional chief fire officer, said, "Primary investigation shows that after the soil beneath the tank had become loose, causing the structure to tilt and subsequently collapse." He said the shed got flattened under the weight of the cement tank. "While we were able to pull out six men from under the rubble, the impact had already killed three," said the official.

According to the Ahmedabad Rural police, a certain Suraj Diwakar, who owns the Bhandari Catering Service had rented a shed near the tank. As the accident occurred, few of the workers managed to escape.

While Bopal residents have blamed the civic body for not maintaining the structure despite a complaint, corporation officials said they never received any communication from the locals.