**Staircase Collapse in Ghaziabad Residential Building Traps Families**
In the early hours of Sunday, around 4:30 am, a section of the staircase in a residential building located in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, collapsed, trapping two families inside their flats. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, but the incident left several families on the upper floors stranded due to the lack of a lift or any safe exit routes. The collapse obstructed direct access to multiple flats, confining at least six families within their homes for nearly 10 hours.
A fire brigade team arrived at the scene after a significant delay and successfully evacuated the trapped residents using a ladder. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal confirmed that the corridor leading to flat H-110 on the third floor also collapsed during the incident. Among those trapped were Sanjeev Sharma, 54, his son Sahil Sharma, 24, and their pet dog. The precarious situation was exacerbated by exposed iron rods and debris, which posed serious risks to the rescue efforts.
One of the rescued residents expressed frustration over the delayed response, noting, “There was a delay in getting a fire brigade due to Sunday. But disasters don’t see time.” This resident emphasized the urgent need for consistent maintenance policies in residential societies to prevent such incidents.
Local residents and members of the housing committee attributed the collapse to poor construction practices by the Housing Development Council. They alleged that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised due to the use of substandard materials and workmanship. Despite notifying the relevant department immediately, no officials from the Housing Development Council arrived at the site for several hours, further heightening residents’ anger and anxiety.
The building, part of a developmental society under Uttar Pradesh’s Avas Vikas Yojana, is nearly 30 years old, with flats allotted in 2000. A resident pointed out that the low maintenance charges are insufficient for proper upkeep, and there is a lack of a unified mechanism or clearly defined responsibilities for maintaining the society’s infrastructure.
While no injuries were reported, this incident has raised critical questions about the structural safety and governance of aging residential buildings in the area.
**FAQ**
**What caused the staircase collapse in the Ghaziabad building?**
The collapse is believed to be due to poor construction practices and the use of substandard materials, compromising the building’s structural integrity.
