Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 14

Though the work to raze the remaining portion of RT Woolen Mill was started yesterday, machines could not be used for the task even today. The debris of the collapsed structure on RK Road was yet to be cleared to make way for the machines.

The unsafe factory building had collapsed on Thursday morning, leaving at least 10 persons injured and damaging three adjoining buildings, including ‘vehra’ rooms and a godown shed.

The MC had ordered the factory owner to get the remaining portion of the building demolished. A team of the civic body had also been deployed on the site to keep a vigil. As per information, the work to clear the debris was started late today but it was being done manually. MC’s Assistant Town Planner Mohan Singh said “It was a big factory, constructed in around 1,500 sq yards area. A machine was deployed by the building owner yesterday on the adjoining shed side but it could not move ahead due to debris of the collapsed structures. Once a way is made, machines can be used to raze the remaining portion of the building.”

Meanwhile, labourers of the adjoining ‘vehra’ are a harried lot as they are unable to collect their belongings. For safety reasons, the dwellers were evacuated as a portion of the unsafe factory was still standing. Around 250 dwellers were shifted to a dharamshala.

Councillor Swarandeep Singh Chahal said, “About 50 per cent of my shed got damaged due to the factory collapse. Now, they are trying to move machines from the shed side. The remaining portion of the factory should be razed within a week as our business is getting affected.”

An official said that it may take at least two weeks to get the remaining portion of the building demolished.