BENGALURU: Residents of Queen’s Corner are an anxious lot. Freelance writer Thangam Venky has owned a flat here for the past two years. “My husband’s office was in Queen’s Corner and so we wanted a house nearby. Fortunately, we got a flat on the same premises. We were tenants for four years and two years ago, we bought it. We love this place and the house. We want to come back, but will not move until it is safe to live here,” Thangam said.
She, her husband Venkatakrishna, and two children are staying at Ashraya Hotel on Infantry Road for the time-being. “My daughter studies at NPS Yeshwantpur. The school van picks up and drops her off from the Cunningham-Queen's Road corner. Though we have relatives in Vijaynagar, this is why we did not move elsewhere,” she said.
Thangam, a resident of C block, recalled the horrors of Monday. “We were asked to take essential and valuable things out of the house. My husband and I did not want to go together leaving our kids alone. So we took turns and brought valuables and documents, jewellery, clothes for three days, and children’s books,” she said.
Karishma and her family members are temporarily put up at the Bowring Institute. “We want to move back. But till we are assured of safety, we will not shift,” she said. “The generator next to the area that caved in has been removed as it could catch fire. And as the generator is removed, there is no power,” she said.
Her husband Lal Mirpuri said they have been living in this apartment for the past two decades. “As we are currently staying outside, we demand that the builder give us compensation,” he said. Lal, who is also president of the residents’ association of Queen's Corner, said, “Five of us were at the area of the incident and were talking about the cracks on the compound wall. We left the place at 10.45 am and the ground caved in at 11.05. Fortunately, we left the place before it happened,” he said.
Uday, who works with Thomson Reuters, has been staying at Fortune Hotel with his family since Monday. “My father is visually challenged and it has become very difficult for all of us, especially my father, who is used to the Queen's Corner flat. We really want to move back to our home, but shall wait for some time,” he said.
Plaint Filed Against Legacy Builders
Residents of Queens Corner Apartments filed a complaint against Legacy Builders on Monday night. According to police, a case of negligence and endangering the lives of people has been filed at Cubbon Park police station. “A case under Sec 336 of IPC (endangering life or personal safety of others) has been filed. The investigation will be carried out with the help of experts,” a police officer said. The complaint stated that builders violated norms while constructing the apartment, causing trouble to neighbouring properties and residents.
BBMP Blames Builder
Bengaluru: Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administrator T M Vijay Bhaskar blamed Legacy Builders for not taking precautionary measures while excavating the land near the Queen's Corner Apartment Complex.
The administrator and a team of officials visited the apartment complex that houses 96 flats in three blocks. Each block has 32 flats. A release from BBMP stated that the administrator said Legacy Builders had taken permission to construct a building with 13 floors. “As the builder failed to take precautionary measures, excavation work has affected neighbouring buildings,” he said.
“The BBMP engineer has lodged a complaint against the builder and an FIR has been registered,” the administrator said. Vijay Bhaskar told Express the Palike had approached experts from a private firm to find out more on the status of all six surrounding buildings, including Queen's Corner. The report is expected to reach in two days. “Once we get it, we shall take action,” he said.
The administrator said he would discuss with his officials and draw up guidelines for excavation sites.
