HYDERABAD: The newly constructed multi-storied building collapsed because of inadequate design, bad quality material and excessive loading on foundation soil and columns.
A preliminary report submitted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad, Professor of Civil Engineer, N V Ramana Rao to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on the multi-storied building collapse stated that the building has failed because of inadequate design, usage of poor quality material, excessive loading on foundation soil and columns.
The building was constructed too close to each other which led to excessive pressure on the soil. The adjacent excavation has also aggravated the problem but can be ascertained only after complete removal of debris material, the preliminary report mentioned.
GHMC entrusted the job to JNTU, Hyderabad with a responsibility to find out the cause of the building collapse. Only after detailed verification of the structural and architectural drawings and geo-technical report, the actual cause of failure of the building can be ascertained, Rao stated in the report.
Based on the area and road width, building permission cannot be given to multi-storied building except for ground plus two floors, however, the building owner, Satyanarayana Singh alias Sattu Singh a close aide of a Telangana cabinet minister went ahead with unauthorised construction of additional four floors on pillars which cannot take the load of additional floors.
The local residents also complained that one of the private builder, who is constructing multi-storied building opposite to the collapsed structure building, has dug the earth for construction two cellars by using large number of JCBs leading to weakening of the soil.