Ranchi: A worker was killed and another was feared trapped under the debris when a dilapidated overhead water tank collapsed during demolition work behind Kotwali police station in the city on Wednesday, police said.The tank near Zila School, belonging to the drinking water and sanitation department, came crashing down around 5.30 pm, trapping two labourers beneath concrete debris.Police cordoned off the area as crowds gathered. District officials and rescue teams rushed to the site and pressed excavators into service amid heavy rain. The impact was so loud that it was heard nearly 1 km away, witnesses said.Rims public relations officer Dr Shishir Kumar told TOI that Satya Bhuiyan, 35, a resident of Palamu district, was brought dead to the hospital. The rescue operation will continue to recover the worker trapped under the debris.Kotwali police station officer in-charge Sanoj Kumar Choudhary said teams were clearing the debris to ascertain whether anyone else was trapped.Tea vendor Mahendra Kumar, whose stall is outside the premises, said workers had been demolishing the tank for several days. “I heard a massive sound around 5.30 pm. It took me a few minutes to realise that the tank had collapsed,” he said.Three other workers escaped unhurt, Ranchi’s BJP MLA C P Singh claimed. Singh, who reviewed the rescue operation, demanded compensation for the victims’ families and action if safety lapses were found.
