Bengaluru building collapse: Ex Gratia declared, CM Siddaramaiah meets injured people as rescue operations continue – News18

Last update:24 Oct 2024 11:40 IST

Eight people died after an under-construction building collapsed in Bengaluru on Tuesday. PM Modi and CM announced ex gratia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of 8 who died in the under-construction building collapse that occurred due to heavy rain at Babusapalya in Karnataka, Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Moving on to the ‘X’, the Prime Minister’s Office of India (PMO India) posted: “Grieved by the loss of life due to the collapse of a building in Bengaluru. My thoughts are with all who have lost loved ones. I pray that the injured will recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Injured will be given Rs 50,000: PM @narendramodi”.

KARNATAKA CM ANNOUNCES EX-GRATIA

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of all the deceased persons. He said the state government would bear the medical expenses of all the 6 seriously injured in the accident.

“The government will decide the compensation for them soon,” the officials said.

The Chief Minister also met the injured in the hospital.

DEMOLITION OF BUILDING IN BENGALURU

Eight people died and many others were injured in the accident. Teams from the Fire and Emergency Services, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were dispatched for the rescue operations.

One body was recovered on Tuesday night, while four other people were found dead the next morning. Three more bodies were recovered by Wednesday evening. Those killed were from Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The rescue operation on the spot continues.

Three people have been detained in connection with the incident.

“Muniraja Reddy, under whose name the building was being constructed, his son Bhuvan and the contractor Muniyappa, who was constructing it, were arrested in connection with the incident,” said a senior police official.

“The permit was only for the construction of a four-storey building, but seven floors were being built,” he added.

ACTION TAKEN ON THE INCIDENT

Bengaluru civic body BBMP swung into action after the incident and suspended assistant executive engineer Vinay K with immediate effect for “serious dereliction of duty”, officials said.

Lokayukta Justice BS Patil visited the spot and assured necessary action to prevent similar incidents in future.

“It’s an unfortunate accident. Eight innocent people lost their lives. Two more people are suspected to be still trapped. Who is responsible for this? Why did it happen? Who is to blame? We have registered a suo moto case. We have come here for inspection,” he told the media.

NO PLAN SANCTIONED, NO BUILDING LICENSE: OFFICIAL

Patil said the inspection showed that there was no license and the building was being constructed illegally.

“When such a large building was erected, there was no approved plan, no license. The building is said to be under construction for the past two years. So far the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) officials have not tried to stop it. We have to understand prima facie that no notice was served when the construction was from the foundation to the fourth floor,” he said.

He stressed that building construction should not be done illegally and should be done with a valid license. “Officials should not remain silent when unauthorized constructions are carried out and then issue a notice after they are completed,” the official said.

“If construction stops, the question of demolition will not stand. Such incidents should not happen again and we will take all necessary actions,” he added.

(With information from the agency)