Bengaluru, Oct 24: Seven more bodies were recovered during search and rescue operation after an under-construction building collapsed at Babusapalya here, taking the death toll to eight, police said on Wednesday.
Teams from the fire and emergency department, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been pressed into rescue operations since the incident occurred during heavy downpour on Tuesday.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, they said.
“Muniraja Reddy under whose name the building was being constructed, his son Bhuvan and the contractor Muniyappa who was building it have been arrested in connection with the incident,” a senior police official said.
“Permission was only for construction of a four-storey building but seven floors were being constructed,” he said.
One body was recovered by the rescue team on Tuesday.
“Seven more bodies have been recovered and six workers were injured.”
Those killed in the incident hailed from Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Search operation is underway to trace two more people who have been reported missing since the incident and are suspected to be trapped under the rubble, the official said.
Thirteen workers have been rescued so far, he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Executive Engineer Vinay K has been suspended by the city’s civic body BBMP in connection with the incident with immediate effect for serious dereliction of duty, officials said.
Lokayukta Justice B S Patil, who visited the spot, termed it as an “unfortunate incident” and assured that all necessary actions will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen.
“It is an unfortunate incident. Eight innocents have lost their lives. There is suspicion that two more people are still trapped. Who is responsible for it? Why it happened? Who is at fault?. We have registered a suo moto case. We have come here for inspection,” he told reporters here.
He said that the inspection revealed that there was no license. When such a big building was coming up, there was no sanctioned plan nor license. The building was being constructed illegally.
“It is said that the building was being constructed for the last two years. Still the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) officials have not tried to stop it. We have to come to know prima facie that no notice was served when the construction was on from foundation to the fourth floor,” he said.
Patil said buildings should not be constructed illegally and that the constructions have to be done with proper license. The officials should not remain silent when unauthorised constructions are underway and then issue notice after they are completed.
“We have inquired assistant executive engineer , zonal commissioner and joint commissioner and prima facie, we have come to know that there is lapse on part of officials, they will be served notice and they will be summoned. Such a tragic incident should be an eye opener for Bengalureans,” he said.
“If the constructions are stopped, the question of demolition will not arise. Such incidents should not happen again and we will take all necessary actions,” he added.
PM, CM announces ex-gratia to next kin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased in the building collapse here.
Taking to ‘X’, office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO India) posted: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Bengaluru. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon”
“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given
Rs 50,000: PM @narendramodi,” it stated.
Eight persons were killed and 13 rescued after an under-construction building collapsed at Babusapalya near Hennur on Tuesday.
The building owner, his son and contractor have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of each deceased in a building collapse here, and said the government will bear the full medical expenses of those injured.
The incident, which claimed eight lives, was not due to the impact of rain, but owing to shoddy construction work, he said, adding, the building was constructed in a revenue layout unauthorisedly without taking any licence, and officials are being held responsible for it.
Siddaramaiah said eight people have been rescued. Three of the six injured are in a serious condition but all of them are out of danger.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the building collapse site at Babusapalya near Hennur, he said next of kin of those killed would be given an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each — Rs two lakh by the Labour Department and Rs three lakh by the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The government is also thinking about giving ex-gratia to those injured, he added. The Chief Minister also visited the hospital where they are being treated.
“The money is not equivalent to the lives lost, but compensation has to be given as the deceased are labourers. All necessary arrangements will be made to send the bodies to their native places,” he said. (PTI)
