Two men were killed after a seven-storeyed building that was under construction collapsed in Anjaiah Nagar in Kondapur, Hyderabad on Saturday, August 22. The deceased were identified as Umesh (34) and Mopat (42), construction workers from Madhya Pradesh.
Police said the building was being constructed on a plot next to a nala (canal), and any lapses in the construction process are being investigated. The Raidurgam police have booked the owner of the building Syed Sajid, and the contractor Khaja Moinuddin, The Hindu reported.
Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner G Srijana has said that the building’s construction was halted after receiving complaints about it around six months ago, but work resumed on August 21. The Town Planning Building Officer of the area, U Santosh Kumar, was reportedly suspended over the incident.
Debris from the collapsed structure fell onto an adjacent building, Jayadarshini Apartments, reportedly injuring a resident.
Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath inspected the site along with CMC Commissioner Srijana and said that action will be taken against such dangerous buildings.
The officials visited the Jayadarshini Apartments affected by the collapsed building, and informed residents that the building's structural integrity would be assessed and verified. Until then, no one should stay in the affected parts of the apartment, the authorities said.
Speaking to the media, Ranganath said that many buildings in the Anjaiah Nagar area have been constructed without permission, very close to the nala or canal. He said that seven-storeyed buildings are being built on just 50 square yards of land, endangering residents' lives. He announced that a special drive will be conducted in the area in collaboration with CMC.