Heavy rain lashed Kanpur on Friday morning, and along with it came a major accident that sent residents running for their lives. Part of the basement at Harmony Villa society in the Pandu Nagar locality, under the Kakadeo police station area, suddenly caved in with a loud crash. The building shook, panic spread through the complex, and people rushed out of their flats. Within minutes, a large crowd had gathered outside the society gates as chaos took over the area.
Over 50 residents pulled to safety
Kakadeo police, fire brigade personnel, municipal corporation staff and other administrative teams reached the spot as soon as they were alerted. Officials evacuated the entire building without delay and launched a rescue operation that brought more than 50 people out safely. No one was killed in the accident, but household belongings and vehicles belonging to several families got trapped under the debris.
Parking area sinks, 6 to 7 vehicles swallowed by debris
As the basement gave way, the ground beneath the parking area also sank. Several cars and two wheelers parked there, numbering 6 to 7 vehicles, sank into a deep pit filled with debris. Cranes and other heavy machinery were called in to pull the vehicles out, and the operation continued well into the evening. Families who had fled their homes were seen in tears outside the society, and many could not even retrieve essential belongings from their flats. Children and elderly residents were visibly shaken by the incident.
Metro construction work questioned, MLA orders technical probe
Soon after the collapse, residents of the society alleged that ongoing metro construction work nearby had already weakened the ground. They claimed continuous digging combined with Friday's heavy rain caused the ground to sink and the basement wall to break. Local MLA Surendra Maithani reached the spot, met the affected families and took complete details from officials. He said he had spoken with metro officials and maintained that no fault on his part had come to light in the matter.
Following this, MLA Surendra Maithani called the vice chairperson of the Kanpur Development Authority, or KDA, and briefed her on the entire case. He ordered an immediate technical inquiry and asked for a report by evening. The MLA said that once the report comes in, strict action will be taken against whoever is found responsible, be it the metro authorities, the KDA or the builder who constructed the building, and that no one would be spared.
Fear spreads to neighbouring localities
The scare was not confined to Harmony Villa alone, residents in nearby neighbourhoods are also on edge. Local people say that if this could happen to one standing building, their own homes might not be safe either, and they are demanding that the administration inspect other buildings in the area too. Police, municipal corporation staff and other department teams remain stationed at the site, the building has been completely vacated, and technical experts are examining the structure. All eyes are now on the inquiry report, which is expected to reveal the real cause behind the accident and who is responsible for it.
