- Thursday, October 24, 2024
Search operation is underway to trace two more people who have been reported missing since the collapse and are suspected to be trapped under the rubble
By: Shajil Kumar
SEVEN more bodies were recovered during the search and rescue operation after an under-construction building collapsed at Babusapalya in Bengaluru, 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.
“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 licence. When such a big building was coming up, there was no sanctioned plan nor licence. 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 licence. 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 are lapses on the 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. (PTI)
