A constrution worker lost his life, and several others sustained injuries after an old and dilapidated building collapsed during renovation work in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. The Gaikwad Haveli police have registered a case against the contractor, identified as Shakeel alias Abbasbhai Abdul Qadir Shaikh, following allegations of negligence and unsafe working conditions.

According to Sukrambhai Naranbhai Rawat, the brother of the deceased and a fellow worker, he and his brother Sanjay Naranbhai Rawat, along with other workers, were hired on the spot by Shakeel for a plastering and renovation job. They were offered a daily wage of ₹1,200 and taken to the site, an ageing structure in Jamalpur.

The work involved plastering the roof and grinding the old walls. However, the walls were already weakened, and as the workers were working, a section of the upper wall suddenly collapsed. The workers, including Sukrambhai, his brother, and their maternal uncle Sahibbhai Bariya, were trapped under the debris.

One dead, several injured

Emergency services, including the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service Department and paramedics, rushed to the scene and rescued the trapped workers. Sukrambhai sustained injuries to his head and mouth, while Sanjay was admitted to the ICU with a head injury. Despite receiving treatment, Sanjay succumbed to his injuries.

Other workers suffered minor injuries and were treated at V S Hospital. Sukrambhai and his uncle were discharged, but they now demand legal action against the contractor for negligence.

The Gaekwad Haveli police has registered a case and initiated an investigation into the contractor's liability. The police suspect that the renovation work was carried out without proper safety measures, endangering the lives of workers.