A pall of gloom descended on Nehrupuram on Wednesday as bodies of those who died on Tuesday night’s building crash were brought home from hospitals.
The relatives were inconsolable as their last rites were being performed. Hundreds of people gathered near the ill-fated building. Angry neighbours blamed the non-availability of ambulance services and apathy of officials for the tragic incident that had left seven dead and 13 injured.
“I have been staying in the quarters for the last 22 years. Our family paid contractor some money and he allowed us to stay there, but we don’t have any documents to support our claim. Why has the Palike kept quiet all these days. Nobody told us the building is unsafe,” said Rashida, a neighbour.
Zameerulla Khan, another resident, said if ambulance vans were available, victims could’ve been provided with timely treatment. “Victims were rushed to hospitals in autorickshaws and tempos as no ambulance vans were available,” he said.
BBMP Commissioner Dr S Subramanya has said the balcony collapsed due to a faulty design. “The design was faulty. It doesn’t exist in the building plan at all,” he said. A full-fledged inquiry will be conducted by a team led by K R Srinivas, Special Commissioner (Projects). The report will be submitted to the Commissioner within a week.
“The project engineer in charge of constructing the building is now dead. If necessary, action will be taken against other officials, if found guilty,” he added.
On the Palike's measures to prevent such incidents, the Commissioner said Torsteel Research Foundation, a civil engineering consultant firm, will survey all the Palike quarters and assess their safety.
“Among the other corporation quarters at Jayanagar 9th Block, DJ Halli and Jakkarayara Kere, the one at DG Halli quarters needs examination. It’ll be done shortly,” said the Commissioner. The BBMP has no data on how many such buildings are unfit for dwelling.

COMPENSATION

Sandeep Dash, BBMP Special Commissioner (Finance), BBMP distributed seven cheques worth Rs 1 lakh each to family members of the deceased - Taslima Banu, Rehana Begum, Sameer Shariff, Mohammed Ismail, Sultana Begum, Faizan Shariff and Salma Begum. A sum of Rs 25,000 each will be given to all the 13 injured shortly, Palike officials said.