One dies in building collapse

Loosened columns came crashing down during demolition work

The body of Palaniswamy, a labourer from Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, was found under the debris after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Fire and Emergency Team worked through the evening to clear the area. Another labourer, Mohammed Alim, who was injured, is being treated as an outpatient at M S Ramaiah Hospital.

At 5 pm, Palaniswamy and Alim, who had finished their work, were washing at the back of the building, when the columns which had loosened from the demolition, came crashing down on them.

While Palaniswamy was trapped under the debris, Alim’s legs got stuck in the rubbles. A passerby, Nagraju working for a travel company said: “As soon as we saw the columns collapse, I, along with some people, rushed to the spot and found a labourer stranded. The police who arrived immediately, helped him to the hospital.” While retrieving Palaniswamy’s body, the rescue team found that his leg was severed from his body.

Unaware of his nephew

Meanwhile, Maari, a distraught aunt of Palaniswamy said, “We are 13 labourers living here for the last 40 days. I was not aware what had happened to him,” she cried.
The five-storeyed structure belongs to Sri Krishnadevaraya Education Trust. The demolition of the building had begun last month. Two of the Trust persons - Chinnaswamy and K V Shekhar Raju had outsourced the demolition work to Riyaz of Star Demolitions. Riyaz was in charge of the entire affairs.

There was only one wall which was required to be demolished when the mishap occurred.

Height of the column which came crashing down was 6.5 feet. As many as 15 workers, all from Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu were at work when the incident took place. A car belonging to Bagalkot MLA parked in the adjacent building is also damaged.

The BBMP assistant engineer lodged a complaint with Sadashivanagar police, who have registered a case of negligence against Chinnaswamy, Raju and Riyaz.  The police have deployed forces near the spot.