Three days after heavy rain and a mudslide in Hyderabad's Singadikunta area snubbed the life of two people, more details have emerged about the case.
Singadikunta, a slum right next to the city's posh Banjara Hills, is home to several feeble temporary roof-tops that are vulnerable to collapse any time it rains.
The police have registered a case against builder P Krisham Raju, who owned a building on plot no. 9 of Singadikunta, and reportedly went on to rent the place to OYO homes.
According to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the owner had constructed a six-storey building with an 'illegal' retaining wall, that blocked the natural water flow during the rains.
"GHMC officials stated in the complaint that the owner of the apartment had constructed the wall in front illegally. It was also alleged that the owner had illegally dumped the excavated soil while constructing the structure eight years ago and the same loose soil caused the death of the two people on Monday. The complaint does not mention anything about the legality of the apartment. After altering the case from Section 174 of CrPC to Section 304-A (Causing death by negligence) of IPC, we will issue a notice to Krishnam Raju to appear for questioning,“ Banjara Hills inspector K Srinivas told the Times of India.
However, that was not the only violation.
The builder had also rented the building to OYO Homes without a license, and illegally constructed an additional floor and a shed, Deccan Chronicle reported.
“The entire building has been rented out to OYO Homes, and the regularisation of the building has been pending since 2008. The owner applied for a provisional license, which is valid for only three months, but the building does not have a trade license. This goes against the GHMC’s Building Usage Act. A closure notice will be served to the builder,” GHMC deputy municipal commissioner, Satyanarayana, told DC.
Yadulu, along with his six-month-old son, died on Monday after a wall collapsed on them. They were caught unaware, when an unsuspected mudslide flattened their fragile home and resulted in a wall collapsing. Both Yadulu and the baby were trapped under the wall and succumbed due to grievous injuries.
Singadikunta has at least 200 illegal houses, haphazardly constructed.