Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal

Bhopal, Apr 5: At least two people were killed after a four-storey building collapsed in Kotma town of Anuppur district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday evening, officials said.

The incident occurred around 5.50 pm near a busy bus stand area, with around 6–7 people feared trapped under the debris.

District Magistrate Harshal Pancholi said five people have been rescued so far. “Out of those pulled out, two have died, while three are undergoing treatment,” he said.

Teams from the NDRF and SDRF, along with district authorities, are carrying out rescue operations. Heavy machinery, including cranes, is being used to clear debris as efforts continue to locate survivors.

Preliminary inputs suggest nearby construction activity may have triggered the collapse. Locals said an adjacent old structure had recently been demolished and excavation work for a new building was underway.

A deep pit dug next to the building is suspected to have weakened its foundation. Residents claimed the structure had started tilting before it suddenly collapsed.

Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.