Rajkot: A 45-year-old man died after a dilapidated house collapsed late on Saturday night in Shramjivi Society in Bedipara area of the city, triggering a rescue operation by the fire brigade and emergency responders.The incident took place near Ramji Mandir Chowk when the old structure suddenly gave way with a loud crash, causing panic among residents. Fire brigade personnel, along with 108 emergency ambulance services, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation for trapped victims under the debris.Rescuers pulled out Ajay Beldar from beneath the rubble and rushed him to Rajkot Civil Hospital in an unconscious condition. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment at around 2am, police said.Civic authorities later deployed earthmovers to clear the debris and ensured that no one else was trapped inside the collapsed structure.Thorala police registered a case of accidental death under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Investigators are also examining whether the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) had previously declared the house unsafe and issued notices to its occupants.Preliminary investigations revealed that Beldar and his family had been living in the house for nearly four decades. Police said the rest of the family was away at the time of the collapse.Rajkot had received light to moderate rainfall over the past two days, which may have weakened the already dilapidated structure and contributed to its collapse.
