Commissioners Suspended Over Building Collapse

Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao today announced Rs. 10 lakhs to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 1 lakh to those injured in the multi-storey building collapse incident at Nanakramguda last night.

According to information, three persons reportedly died including a mother and her daughter from Vijayanagaram, Paidamma and Gouri, and one Shiva from Chhattisgarh. KTR announced that Serilingampally Deputy Commissioner Manohar and town planning ACP Krishna Mohan were suspended for permitting the construction of the illegal the building, despite not having a clearance from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Talking to reporters after inspecting the scene along with Minister T Srinivas Yadav and GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy, KTR said that efforts were on to rescue the injured caught under the debris to nearby hospital.

The Minister expressed displeasure and anguish at the incident and blamed the building collapse to the connivance of corrupt officials and builders who used substandard material for construction. He also said that the GHMC would take care of providing shelter to the bereaved families and the best available treatment would be provided to the injured.

The victims were workers who came from remote areas in other States for livelihood, he said. GHMC officials and police teams were involved in the rescue operations while 10 ambulances were ready to shift the injured.

He added that the demolition drive against illegal structures under Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits would be expedited aggressively over the next 45 days.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is in New Delhi on an occasion, expressed his shock at the incident and ordered concerned authorities to tackle the tragedy. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, too, expressed his shock at the incident as most of the victims were from his State. He directed Minister K Atchannaidu to take necessary steps to provide succour to the victims and their families.