UP mishap: 3 officials held; kin block NH

Ghaziabad, January 4

Three civic officials were arrested on Monday in connection with the collapse of a crematorium roof that claimed 24 lives as tension gripped the area with families of the victims blocking the Delhi-Meerut highway by placing two bodies on the road to press for their demand for higher compensation.

They lifted the blockade and agreed to cremate the bodies after hours of protest as officials agreed for Rs 10-lakh compensation and a government job to each victim’s family, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Iraj Raja said.

He said Muradnagar Nagar Palika Executive Officer Niharika Singh, Junior Engineer Chandra Pal and Supervisor Ashish were arrested this morning as they were involved in the tendering process for constructing the structure that collapsed on Sunday. Police teams are also conducting raids at possible hideouts of contractor Ajay Tyagi to arrest him, Raja said. — PTI