2 Dead, Many Trapped In Building Collapse In City

In a tragic incident in Hyderabad, more than ten persons were feared trapped, twelve were injured, and two bodies were recovered from under the debris of an under-construction six-storey building that collapsed at Nanakramguda in Gachibowli at around 9.30 pm, on Thursday.

Soon after getting the information, the Hyderabad Police (Cyberabad) and teams of the GHMC and the NDRF rushed to the spot, and launched rescue operations. But the rescue ops could not be carried out to their full effect as it was dark and cumbersome in the site of the accident.

Two JCB Backhoe Loaders (excavators) were brought to the spot to remove the debris on Thursday night. The rescue operations were restarted this morning.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner Sandeep Shandilya arrived and supervised the operations. GHMC officials requested the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to send teams to assist them in rescuing those trapped under the debris. The GHMC town planning and engineering wing officials also hurried to the spot.

Residents of the locality also joined hands with the police in removing the debris and searched for survivors trapped inside. 12 of the injured were rescued and rushed to nearby hospital.

Local residents told the police that majority of the people residing in the building were construction workers. The construction of the building was almost finished, they added.

As per them, the building collapsed like a deck of cards, after which people residing in adjacent houses panicked and rushed out of their premises to safety. "We felt tremors, and then saw the entire building come down in seconds. We believe there are 25 people residing in the building including women and children," a resident said.

Another person said that he had a narrow escape and saw a family getting trapped alive under the debris.

As per the police, criminal cases had been launched against the owner and the officials responsible for giving the building a permit, despite it being built on an illegally encroached land.

Some startling information also came to the fore about illegal cellars (underground) being constructed to compensate for the height of the building which was exceeding permissible limits. This is being speculated for being the reason for damaging the foundation and causing the structure to fall.

Cabinet Ministers T Padma Rao Goud and K T Rama Rao, and several other ruling and Opposition party members visited the site. While the Opposition demanded severe measures against the accused, KTR vowed to suspend all officials responsible for the tragedy.

As per sources, this is the fourth building in Hyderabad to have collapsed in 2016. Several locals, ruling and Opposition parties, and others are demanding severe action against all the persons responsible.

Search and rescue operations are still being carried out.