HYDERABAD:It was sheer luck that saved the life of 55-year-old Srinivas as the revenue department officials took up a demolition drive without caring to evacuate the inmates in the houses. Srinivas, a resident of Devender Nagar in Jawaharnagar was sleeping inside his house when the debris came crashing down on him. Officials from Rangareddy district revenue department were removing the encroachments when Srinivas got trapped in debris.
Without caring a hoot for evacuation of the houses prior to demolition, authorities moved in the earthmovers, bringing down several asbestos-sheeted houses.
They had no clue about Srinivas, who was sleeping inside his house at the time of demolition. The man received grievous injuries as debris fell on his body.
Due to the noise from the earthmover, the demolition squad also failed to notice Srinivas’ cry for help. After a while, however, Srinivas succeeded to come out and alert the staff. He was quickly rescued and taken to a private hospital in Dammaiguda for necessary medical treatment. Officials, however, maintained that some people had illegally constructed houses without obtaining valid permissions. After having identified such dwellings, the officials launched a demolition drive. Upset over the demolition drive, angry residents of the locality held a demonstration against the revenue staff for playing with the lives of poor people. They condemned high handedness of revenue staff for causing serious injuries to the elderly.