Eighteen killed in roof collapse at cremation ground in Ghaziabad

Lucknow:The roof of a cremation ground in Muradnagar collapsed in Ghaziabad district on Sunday killing at least 18 people and injuring over 20 others.Sources at the police headquarters here said the roof was constructed recently and it collapsed due to rains.

Around 40 people were under the roof observing  a condolence function of a fruit seller Jairam(65), when it suddenly collapsed.Eighteen people were rushed to the MMG hospital in Ghaziabad where several of the injured were in critical condition.

Inferior quality construction material was the reason for roof collapse.Senior officials were on the spot and rescue work was underway.Meanwhile, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high level probe into the incident and expressed his grief over the tragedy.

The CM has announced an ex- gratia payment of Rs two lakhs each to the family of the kin.

The divisional commissioner Meerut and ADG , Meerut zone would probe the matter and report it to the  government,Yogi Adityanath ordered.(UNI)