Three Dead as Kotma Lodge Collapse Traps Dozens, Rescue Ops Ongoing
Three Dead as Kotma Lodge Collapse Traps Dozens, Rescue Ops Ongoing
A four-storey lodge in Kotma collapsed amid nearby digging, killing three and trapping several; rescue teams race to pull survivors as investigators probe the cause.
A four-storey private lodge near the Kotma bus stand in Anuppur district collapsed on Saturday evening, trapping guests, staff and labourers as digging work on a neighboring plot reportedly weakened the structure. The lodge, widely referred to in reports as Aggarwal Lodge, stood on a narrow footprint and was about a decade old, according to local police.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene and pulled several people from the debris. Six people were trapped, and three had been rescued with injuries by late Saturday night, as officials coordinated with local police, fire services, and the National Disaster Response Force. An overnight operation continued as the search expanded to the surrounding debris.
By Sunday, the toll had risen, with three people dead including a woman, and the three bodies recovered from the wreckage. The deceased were later identified as Radha Kaul, 45; Hanuman Deen Yadav, 55; and Ramkripal Yadav, 48. Six others were rescued or treated for injuries. Investigators said the collapse occurred after digging in an adjacent plot damaged the lodge’s foundation. Kotma police have booked the lodge owner, Lallu Lal Agrawal, and the neighbouring property owner, Rajeev Garg, under a negligence provision of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The state government announced financial assistance for victims’ families and the injured. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said ₹4 lakh would be given to each family of the deceased, ₹4 lakh more under the Sambal Scheme, and ₹1 lakh from the Red Cross. The injured will receive ₹2 lakh each under the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Grant, with additional support details communicated through official channels.
Officials and rescue teams, including the NDRF and SDRF, continued to search through the rubble on Sunday. CCTV footage surfaced showing the moment the building began to cave in, adding to questions about structural safety in the area. Investigations are underway to determine the precise cause and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
