Deccan Herald              21.08.2013

BBMP to raze collapsed building

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will raze the building which collapsed at Someshwaranagar on Monday, with assistance from a Hyderabad firm.

Rescue operations by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were completed by Tuesday evening.

As narrow lanes leading to the accident site are likely to impede the movement of heavy machines, the Palike has decided to rope in the Hyderabad firm. It has expertise in demolishing such structures without affecting neighbouring buildings. The firm will send a team with machines and tools in 12 hours, Palike sources said.

Meanwhile, two more bodies have been recovered.

People living in the vicinity have alleged that the building collapse has already caused irreparable damage to their houses. They apprehended that rescue operations would do further damage.

Shivkumar, who lives next to the apartment complex, said he had a close shave on Monday. He was going to take a bath when his wife Lakshmi observed large cracks in the wall of his first-floor apartment. Shivkumar ran out of the house immediately with his family. “We are yet to return. The BBMP is responsible and it has to compensate for the damage to our buildings,” he said.

Fears that the rescue operations could further damage the adjacent buildings came true on Tuesday, as the wall of a house next to the apartment complex collapsed, injuring the owner.

Rescue workers had dumped seven truckloads of mud next to the apartment complex to facilitate functioning of an excavator. Krishnappa said he had repeatedly objected to the piling of mud next to his house.

He feared that it might weaken the walls. His fears came true when rescue workers observed cracks in a wall against which the mud was piled up.

They immediately instructed the residents to evacuate the house.

Krishnappa told Deccan Herald that as he was moving out materials from the room, the wall collapsed on him. He sustained a head injury. He was admitted to hospital and discharged later in the day.

He said BBMP officials were responsible for the accident as they failed to check illegal construction even after repeated alerts by the neighbours. He said the BBMP officials should give it in writing that the neighbours will be compensated for any damage. 

Protests and chaos delayed the rescue operations by at least three hours on Tuesday.