A day after two buildings on 2nd cross Hutchins Road in Pulikeshinagar collapsed killing five people, the BBMP, on Thursday, started controlled demolition of the structures. Before that, the civic body helped residents retrieve their belongings safely.
“We have hired a professional company to demolish the buildings. We will oversee the operation and provide all necessary support and assistance, both to the people and the company,” said a civic official.
Officials first demolished a water tank tower of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), which is located right behind the residential Sai Adi Ambal building, which had collapsed.
Families in the neighbouring Sai Centillion building were asked to evacuate as it was sustaining the weight of Sai Adi Ambal.
Early Wednesday morning, an under-construction building collapsed causing the basement and first floor of the adjoining Sai Adi Ambal to give way and tilt onto Sai Centillion. Residents said that they tried contacting various authorities about the next course of action regarding legal procedure, police case and compensation.
“However, we have not received any clear response from the authorities concerned,” one of them alleged.
A few residents have been provided with temporary accommodation by the CCBI while others are camping with friends and relatives. A resident said that the family is staying in their cousin’s place in Marathahalli for the time being. “But how many days can we stay here? We have to start a new life from scratch, which is an extremely difficult task, mentally, physically, and financially.”
Not all families have been able to access their apartments.
Usha, a resident of Sai Adi Ambal, is still waiting to retrieve her belongings. “BBMP officials said I can get them on Friday. I have important documents to retrieve, and I am worried,” she said.
Pradeep K.K. of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority said they would make sure that minimum damage is caused to neighbouring buildings during demolition. “Important personal belongings have been retrieved, The BBMP has begun the top down demolition process building-by-building,” he said.
One survivor in ICU
Five people, including a three-year-old girl, were killed, and four labourers were injured when the buildings collapsed. Out of the four injured men is in the intensive care unit of Bowring Hospital while the others are said to be of danger.