Two women and a four-year-old toddler lost their lives while over six others were rescued on Wednesday morning after an under construction four-storey building collapsed in Bengaluru’s Pulikeshi Nagar area.
The deceased has been identified as Manjudevi, wife of a construction worker Ram Balak belonging to one among the four families staying in the building. The other woman who died has been identified as Nirmala, and the deceased child as Anushka. Rs 5 lakh compensation will be given to the family of the deceased, the state government has said.
All those rescued have been shifted to Bowring Hospital and are under observation.
According to Disaster Management officials, a coordinated effort by firemen, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and Quick Response Team of the Civil Defense began swiftly.
On Wednesday morning, the accident spot was visited by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, local MLA and former minister KJ George and City Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that permission was only granted for three floors; however, the building had an extra floor which affected the foundation of the building, leading to the collapse.
Speaking to reporters, the Mayor said that that action would be taken against the engineer who sanctioned the construction in violation of the BBMP’s guidelines. She further said the building will be demolished by the BBMP’s technical team once the rescue operations conclude.
This tragedy comes less than a month after three labourers had succumbed to their injuries after the collapse of an under-construction water tank in Bengaluru’s Amruthahalli.
A pillar, which was constructed to support the inside part of the tank, had developed a crack, resulting in the collapse of the centering. They were constructing a dome. The weight of the dome was too much which resulted in the pillar developing cracks. The project was being carried out after BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) had issued tenders to construct the STP.