Slab collapse kills two in Arvi village near Sinhagad fort

PUNE: An 80-year-old man and his 30-year-old daughter-in-law died after the slab of an under-construction house in Arvi village, off Pune-Satara highway about 35km from Pune, caved in on Sunday morning.

The Rajgad police identified the deceased as Nathuram Bhaurao Ghogare and Seeta Sanjay Ghogare. Both died of multiple injuries.

Arvi village is located near Sinhagad fort. Police said the Ghogare family members were constructing the walls of their house. Two years ago, police said the Ghogares built a 10x10 sqft house with pillars and the slab but not the walls. The slab of the house had rested on the pillars and the family had used tin sheets for walls, police said. The family saved money and began building walls this year.

Around 8.30am, the elderly man was watering the concrete walls while his daughter-in-law was helping him, police said.

Some of the pillars collapsed bringing down the slab. Both were trapped under the debris. Two children, who were playing nearby, escaped. Nathuram’s wife, who was sitting under a tree nearby, was unhurt.