Bengaluru building collapse: 5 dead; rescue operations underway
20 people were trapped under the rubble after the seven-storey building collapsed under the impact of heavy rains on Tuesday
At least five people died after a seven-storey building that was under construction in Bengaluru’s Babusapalya collapsed under the impact of torrential rains on Tuesday (October 22).
While one worker was declared dead on Tuesday, four more casualties were reported on Wednesday (October 23) as rescuers worked their way through the rubble in search of survivors.
1 rescued after 16 hours
Two rescue vans from the fire and emergency department have been pressed into rescue operations. They said the incident occurred at a time when the city was witnessing a heavy downpour.
D Devaraja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Bengaluru), told reporters at around 20 people were trapped under the debris after the building collapsed on Tuesday.
Also read: Bengaluru rains: 1 dead, 5 missing in building collapse; schools shut tomorrow
As the rescue operation resumed on Wednesday notwithstanding the rains, rescuers pulled out one of the trapped men, identified as Ayaaz, who was stuck for around 16 hours.
A fire department official said that, according to a preliminary investigation, the entire building collapsed, trapping the people underneath.
Deputy CM visits site
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the spot on Tuesday and took stock of the situation.
He said that out of the 14 rescued, seven were in the hospital.
Shivakumar said the building was illegal and strict action will be taken in this matter.
Also read: Bengaluru rains: 2 children feared drowned; many areas flooded, boats used to rescue people
"I have been told that there was no permission and illegal activities were going on. We will take strict action against the owner, contractors and everyone (of the alleged building). In the entire Bengaluru, we will see to it that we come up with a decision...wherever such illegal constructions are going on, we will stop it immediately. I will conduct a big survey on this," he told reporters here.
"We will stop all these illegal constructions and I will also instruct the registrars to not accept the transfer of such illegal properties which have no plan sanctions. We will take strict action against this," the deputy chief minister added.
(With inputs from agencies)