Prayagraj cold storage accident: 4 dead, 17 injured, this video of the accident will shock your heart

By Samira Vishwas On Mar 24, 2026

Prayagraj cold storage accident: The terrible accident that took place on Monday in Phaphamau area of Sangam city Prayagraj has put the entire Uttar Pradesh in deep shock. The rescue work is going on in full swing for the second day on Tuesday. JCB machines and bulldozers are continuously removing the debris. Efforts are being made to rescue people buried under the debris by removing large pieces of concrete one by one. So far, the death of 4 laborers has been confirmed in this tragic accident. While 17 other laborers are seriously injured and are fighting for their lives under the supervision of doctors at Swarooprani Nehru (SRN) Hospital and Bailey Hospital in Prayagraj.

How did the accident happen?

The time was around 1:30 pm on Monday afternoon. The entire area was busy in its daily work. Suddenly there was a very loud explosion. According to eyewitnesses, the sound of the explosion was so loud that it seemed as if a huge bomb had exploded. With the explosion, a large part of the 27-year-old dilapidated cold storage building fell down with a loud thud. There was a thick cloud of dust all around. Along with this, strong leakage of ammonia gas also started, due to which a terrible situation was created in the air.

Prayagraj: Policemen rushing to take injured laborers for treatment. People there are saying that dozens of bodies have been taken out like this. The exact number of injured and dead has not been known. It is a very scary situation. There is no value left in life.#PraygrajColdStoragepic.twitter.com/kJzwNVTjfe
— Samar Raj (@SamarRaj_) March 23, 2026

How many people were there at that time?

At the time of the accident, about 110 laborers were working in the cold storage. But luckily the accident happened during lunch time between 1 to 2 pm. Most of the workers had gone out after having food. Some had gone for a walk, some to drink tea and some to smoke surti or beedi. Only 25-30 laborers were lying down in the cool place to rest after having food. The roof and walls suddenly collapsed on these unfortunate people. Eyewitness workers say that if this accident had happened outside lunch time, the death toll could have been more than a hundred.

A cold storage collapsed in Prayagraj, in which four people have died and many are injured. If the government had repaired the cold storage on time and maintained it well, then the lives of the poor would not have been lost. The government is responsible for this. pic.twitter.com/500W708mtV
— Surya Samajwadi (@surya_samajwadi) March 23, 2026

The tragic story of innocent Karthik and his mother Ranjana.

The most heart-wrenching story of this accident is that of 3 year old innocent Karthik alias Guddu. His mother Ranjana used to wash clothes in the cold storage complex. As soon as she heard the sound of the explosion, Ranjana, without caring for her life, jumped inside the debris and pulled her son out. Chhota Karthik is currently admitted in the hospital in a very serious condition. Ranjana has already lost her husband. Now his only support is also battling between life and death on the hospital bed. Anyone’s heart aches after seeing the sobbing of both mother and son.

A cold storage building collapsed in Prayagraj after a loud explosion at around 1.30 pm on Monday afternoon. About 20 laborers were buried under the debris. So far 17 people have been pulled out from the debris. Many people are still feared buried under the debris.#prayagraj #prayagrajpolice#UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/0Zex5Rpapr
— Roshan Kumar Journalist (@cameraman_r) March 23, 2026

action against owner

The owner of the cold storage is senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Animal Husbandry Minister Ansar Ahmed alias Pehalwan. Police has taken strict action in this matter. An FIR has been registered against a total of 12 people including former minister Ansar Ahmed, his sons and manager at Phaphamau police station. In this, the names of 7 people are clearly written and the names of 5 unknown accused are there. Police have taken into custody 4 people including two nephews of Ansar Ahmed. Police are continuously raiding in search of the main accused, former minister Ansar Ahmed.

A cold storage building collapsed in Prayagraj after a loud explosion at around 1.30 pm on Monday afternoon. About 20 laborers were buried under the debris. So far 17 people have been pulled out from the debris. Many people are still feared buried under the debris.#prayagraj #prayagrajpolice#UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/0Zex5Rpapr
— Roshan Kumar Journalist (@cameraman_r) March 23, 2026

government help

Seeing the seriousness of this accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have expressed deep sorrow. The government has announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand each to the seriously injured labourers. This accident is not only an incident of collapse of a building, but is also another example of the danger to the lives of workers due to negligence and dilapidated buildings. It is hoped that the rescue work will be completed soon and the injured will be helped to recover as soon as possible.

List of those killed in the accident

So far 4 laborers have died in the terrible cold storage accident that took place on Monday in Phaphamau area of Prayagraj. The police have identified all the dead. The names of the dead are as follows:

Jyovish Kumar (age 22 years)

Resident: Saharsa, Bihar

Jagdish Kumar (age 42 years)

Resident: Chandapur, Phaphamau, Prayagraj (Local Resident)

Manoj alias Billar Chaudhary (age 36 years)

Resident: Saharsa, Bihar

Masinder Kumar (age 19)

Resident: Saharsa, Bihar

These four laborers lost their lives due to being buried under the debris. Three of these laborers were residents of Saharsa district of Bihar, while one was a local resident. 12 to 17 other laborers have been seriously injured in the accident, who are being treated at SRN and Bailey Hospital in Prayagraj. The condition of many injured is still said to be critical. This accident is a big shock for those poor laborers who come from far away places to earn their livelihood. The government has announced an assistance amount of Rs 2-2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50-50 thousand to the injured.