12 killed in wall collapse at salt packaging unit in Gujarat's Morbi district

RAJKOT: At least 12 people, including four children, died when a huge wall inside a salt packaging factory in Halvad GIDC of Morbi district collapsed on Wednesday.
Police said 30 labourers were engaged in salt packaging in the factory of Sagar Salt when the wall suddenly collapsed. The wall was built as a partition.
Preliminary investigation suggested that heavy cement bags (each of 20 kg) stored on one side created pressure on the wall, leading to its collapse. The labourers were packing the salt in small bags on the other side.
Morbi district collector JB Patel told TOI, “The stacks of heavy cement bags were put on the other side of the wall. As the wall collapsed, the labourers were crushed under these bags as well as the wall and all died on the spot.”
A rescue operation was launched with the help of labourers of nearby factories and an earthmover within 20 minutes. They removed the debris and found the dead bodies.
Police said they will book the owner of Sagar Salt for negligence and other relevant sections.
Superintendent of police, Morbi, Rahul Tripathi added, “The roof of the factory was at a significant height and this brick wall was erected as the partition in a sprawling hall. The wall was 12 foot high and 60 to 70 foot in length.”
The deceased were identified as Ramesh Pirana (51), Kajal Pirana (20), Daksha Koli (15), Shyam Koli (13), Dahya Bharwad (42) Ramesh Koli (42), Deepak Somani (3), Rajesh Makwana (39), Dilip Koli (26), Sheetal Koli (32), Raji Bharwad (41) and Devi Bharwad (15).
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the accident, chief minister Bhupendra Patel flew to Halvad town to meet the family members of the deceased.
“The tragedy in Morbi caused by a wall collapse is heart-rending. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Local authorities are providing all possible assistance to the affected,” Modi tweeted.
The PMO also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The injured will be given Rs 50,000 each.
The state government has announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the kin deceased.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the tragedy and spoke to CM Patel over phone about the rescue work.