Cuttack, Nov 8: In a tragic incident this evening, three people lost their lives and six people were injured after an old and dilapidated building collapsed near Manisahu Chhak of Cuttack city.

The injured persons have been admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

According to reports, the victims were residents of a nearby slum and were trapped under the debris when the structure suddenly gave way. Fire Service personnel and police quickly reached the spot and launched rescue operations.

Locals claimed that the building had previously been declared unsafe by the authorities. However, despite repeated warnings, it was neither vacated nor demolished, raising serious concerns over the enforcement of safety measures.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.