Two labourers were killed and two more are feared dead after an under-construction building collapsed in Someshwara Layout in Jayanagar 1st Block near NIMHANS on Monday morning. More than 20 workers also sustained injuries.
Sub-standard work and use of spurious material to construct the seven-storey building is said to be the cause for the tragedy. The identity of the two deceased has not been confirmed.
Police said the incident took place around 8.30 am when more than 70 workers started their work at the seven-storey apartment being constructed by Saleem, a builder. Construction began 10 months ago. It is alleged that the builder had taken permission from the authorities to build a two-floor apartment, but built seven instead.
On Monday, over 70 workers, including some minors were engaged in the work at the site. Most of them were staying in the building premises itself. The first floor collapsed and the entire structure tilted on to the neighouring building, also under construction.
Some of the labourers, who were on the first floor, were trapped under the debris. Others managed to escape, but sustained injuries. They alerted fire and emergency personnel who rushed to the spot and started rescue operations.
After more than eight hours, fire personnel found two men dead under the debris. They suspect that two more labourers are trapped on the edge of the other side.
The injured labourers were rescued by the local residents and other workers and rushed to nearby private and government hospitals. An official said the injured were treated as out-patients and discharged later.
A senior officer of fire department said that sub-standard work and lack of any safety measures led to the incident. The land itself was unsuitable for construction, he added. Home Minister K J George, District-in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police Kamal Pant, senior officials of the fire department and others rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operation.
George said, “An investigation will be taken up in this regard and strict action will be initiated against the people responsible for the incident. Complete violation of construction norms and the negligence of engineers and supervisors have led to the mishap.”
The Siddapur police registered a case against Saleem, the supervisor, two engineers and a contractor, all of whom are still at large.