Ahmedabad: A 62-year-old woman was killed and two others were injured after a house collapsed during drainage work in the city’s Gheekanta area on Wednesday, triggering allegations of civic negligence by local residents. The collapse occurred at Navtad ni Pol, near Mota Hamam, when a residential structure gave way, trapping three people under the debris.Fire brigade officials said they received an alert soon after the collapse and rushed two rescue teams to the spot. “Three persons were found trapped under the rubble. They were rescued within minutes and shifted to Civil Hospital,” a fire officer said. One of the injured women later succumbed to her injuries during treatment.Police and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials reached the site as rescue operations were underway. Locals alleged that AMC’s ongoing drainage line excavation and drilling work adjacent to the house destabilised the structure, leading to the collapse. Two municipal labourers working at the site were also injured, while another woman inside the house sustained injuries.According to officials, the collapsed structure was over a century old and located in a densely populated pol with narrow lanes. “Work was carried out close to the building when the house collapsed,” an AMC official said.The deceased was identified as Pushpa Panchal, police said. Senior police officials, including the DCP Zone 2, visited the spot to assess the situation. AMC’s estate department and disaster management teams began removing debris to prevent further risk to neighbouring houses. As a precautionary measure, police cordoned off the area and restricted public movement within the pol.Residents demanded accountability, alleging that proper safety measures were not taken during the drainage work.
