No fewer than three people lost their lives yesterday at Ndiagu Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, when a two-storey building under construction collapsed in the early hours of the morning while work was in progress.

The landlord of the building and two others were said to have escaped death by the whiskers as they were on top of the building when it collapsed but sustained varying degrees of injury.

According to an eyewitness account, first callers to the scene of the incident were the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Hassan Musa, and the President General of Ogidi Town Union, Chief Chuka Onubogu.

Speaking at the scene of the collapsed building, the Police Commissioner sympathised with the people in the area and urged them to take heart even while praying for the repose of the souls of the dead.

On his part, the President General of Ogidi town attributed the cause of the building collapse to fake building materials, adding that contractors and those involved in building construction should ensure that genuine materials were used.

He regretted that the incident has caused the untimely death of the youths and urged the bereaved families to take heart.

The remains of the deceased people were later taken to Iyi-Enu Hospital morgue with the help of the DPO and his men in collaboration with the community.

•Photo shows collapsed building.