At least fourteen people were killed, buried under a mass of potatoes on Thursday in Sambhal, in the state of Uttar Pradesh (India). The tubers fell through the roof of a cold store which allegedly collapsed, reports The Independent. It was around 11:30 a.m. when the tragedy happened. The gaping you dropped several hundred pounds of potato sacks onto workers working below.
24 people who were able to be extracted from the rubble. While 14 succumbed to their injuries, ten others were saved, police officials said. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a structure specializing in disaster management, has been tasked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government with intervening. Dogs were also deployed to the disaster site to find bodies still buried under piles of potatoes and concrete.
Compensation provided for the victims
It seems that the balance sheet is final, said the police, who remain cautious despite everything. Among the injured victims, four are still hospitalized. The chief minister of the state of this Indian region, Yogi Adityanath, told the families of the deceased that they could count on 200,000 rupees (about 2,253 euros) in compensation.
Injured persons will receive 50,000 rupees, or 563 euros, and will see the costs of their treatment covered. A complaint has been filed by the authorities against the owner of the cold store and two associates, who cannot be found. Four people were interviewed by investigators. The roof of the warehouse had been rebuilt a few months ago. All security protocols may not have been followed.