BENGALURU: The under-construction building that collapsed on Wednesday was the only home in the city for many labourers who worked there.
Nagaraj moved to the city with his family three days ago from his village in Raichur. He works as a labourer in the building while his wife works at a cafe. They have an eight-year-old son and the family lived in the building’s basement. On Wednesday, Nagaraj and his son escaped death by a whisker.
“My son was with me at the time of the accident. He escaped unhurt. I was laying tiles in a bathroom on the first floor. One side of the bathroom was open and I managed to jump out,” Nagaraj told Express.
“I haven’t seen my wife since the accident. I don’t know where we will sleep tonight. I hope that the buildings in the neighbourhood can accommodate them for the night,” he said.
Nagaraj suffered an injury to his finger as his hand got stuck between bricks and he had to pull it out. Doctors told him the injury would heal soon, he said.
Nagaraj explained that he moved to the city in search of a job as he had to give up farming owing to poor monsoon in his village. “After I recover, I’ll decide whether to stay or return to my village,” he said. In fact, most of the workers in the building moved to the city from their native villages in search of jobs. But many were unprepared for the harsh working conditions in the city.
Mali, a native of Nellore, was another labourer who was injured in the collapse. He suffered a fracture in his leg and is admitted in a private hospital. His wife and children are back home, but Mali has been unable to reach them as his phone was damaged in the collapse.
Mali said he came to the city just three days ago. This was his first visit to the city. “We have some land back home. My wife and two children stay there. There have been no rains and farming has taken a hit. I came to the city to try and make some money. My phone was damaged after the accident and there’s poor network in my village. So I haven’t been able to reach my family.”
Many of the labourers know each other only on first name basis and are not aware of where the other hails from. This has posed a challenge for many of them to inform families of those injured in the accident.
State announces relief
The state government has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for families of the deceased. BBMP announced Rs 2 lakh to those who were injured in the accident.