The dead have been identified as Vakil, 22, and Srikant, 26 and Madan Lal. The injured include Ram Sagar, Lal Bihari, Shambhu Das and Ram Das. Madan Lal sustained severe head injuries and was admitted in PGI Emergency. He succumbed to his injuries late on Tuesday.

Around 16 labourers were working at the site when the mishap occurred. While the others escaped with minor injuries, seven people got trapped under the debris. Police have booked the contractor, Abdul Khan, a resident of Palsora village, on charges of negligent act causing death. The owner of the plot, Nirmal Singh, lives in Sector 44.

The incident occurred around 3 pm, when the labourers were laying the roof of the house. All of a sudden, the adjoining wall of the house collapsed and the workers got trapped under the debris. Those who escaped called for help. Police and fire brigade reached the spot in a few minutes and started rescue operations.

Two dozen firemen and police personnel took around 90 minutes to clear the debris with the help of JCB machines, a fire tender and police recovery vehicles. The injured were rushed to General Hospital, Sector 16, where two people were declared brought dead.

“All of a sudden, the entire wall collapsed on our heads. I started bleeding from my nose and mouth. It was pitch dark under the debris. I could barely speak. Somehow, I gathered all my strength and cried for help. I don’t know for how much time I was trapped under the debris before I was finally taken out by firemen and taken to hospital,” Lal Bihari said. Bihari sustained severe injuries on his face, temple and lower back.