
Staircase collapses in Ghaziabad society, man and son rescued
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The incident, which occurred around 4.30am, left the family stranded in their home for several hours before fire officials could safely evacuate them.
The society in Sector 17 — constructed by the Awas Vikas Parishad about 25 years ago — houses around 450 families in towers that are three storeys tall. The collapsed staircase was the only access point to Flat H-110, where Sanjeev Sharma (54) and his son Sahil (24) live with their pet dog.
Other residents, too, feared venturing out due to the hanging debris. "The stairs completely crumbled, trapping residents in their flats. With no elevator in the building, people were scared to move as portions of the structure were still precariously hanging," said Pankaj Sharma, an RWA member.
Neighbours rallied to help, ingeniously using ropes and baskets to deliver essential supplies like milk and bread through windows.
Chief fire officer Rahul Pal described the rescue as challenging because of the dangerous debris hanging overhead. "The fire unit used ladders to safely evacuate both the father and son and their dog. The operation was executed with utmost caution," he said.
For Sanjeev Sharma, the ordeal was nothing short of terrifying. "I feared my entire flat would collapse. We managed to grab some clothes before being rescued. But now, I'm worried about accessing my home.
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We might have to stay in hotels as both my son and I need to return to work on Monday," he said. The incident sparked a blame game between residents and authorities. While society members accused the Awas Vikas of substandard construction, officials pointed to poor maintenance and unauthorised modifications.
"About 250-300 flower pots were placed along the staircases. The terrace, too, was converted into a garden against norms.
Years of seepage had also weakened the structure," said Nikhil Maheshwari, executive engineer at UP Housing Board.
The RWA claimed that around 40 flats owned by Awas Vikas officials didn't contribute to maintenance charges. The officials, however, claimed they never received prior complaints about poor upkeep.
As a stopgap solution, the Housing Board provided temporary access to the affected family. "We're ready to assist with cost estimation for reconstructing the staircase," said Maheshwari.
Residents, meanwhile, are contemplating pooling money for the reconstruction of the staircase.
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