A devastating incident occurred near the Phulewadi Fire Station in Kolhapur late at night. A slab from a structure collapsed, potentially trapping between 8 and 10 workers. Tragically, Navnath Annappa Kagalkar, a 38-year-old resident of Shahunagar, Vadwadi, lost his life in the incident.
Injured individuals include Akshay Piraji Lad (30, resident of Shiv Shakti Colony, Gangai Lawn), Dattatraya Subhash Shembde (37), Jaya Subhash Shembde (56, resident of Sambhajinagar), Vanita Bapu Gaikwad (40, resident of Sambhajinagar), and Suman Sada Waghmare (60, resident of Sambhajinagar).
Emergency rescue operations are underway, with fire brigade, disaster management, police, and medical teams working at the site. The presence of heavy rain and darkness is posing challenges to the rescue teams.
Former MLA Ruturaj Patil and former corporator Rahul Mane have been actively involved in the rescue efforts at the scene. Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta and Municipal Commissioner K. Manjulakshmi were also present.
The atmosphere in the area is strained, with a large number of people converging at the site. The administration has urged citizens to maintain order and avoid disrupting the rescue operations.
While one death has been confirmed, authorities suspect that more people may be buried under the debris. The darkness and rainfall are hindering the rescue efforts.
The reason behind the slab’s collapse has yet to be determined, and no official explanation has been provided. A crowd of people, along with media personnel, are present at the location. Authorities are expected to issue a statement on the cause of the collapse once rescue operations are completed.