Under-construction building collapses; no casualties

Hyderabad: A four-storey under-construction building crumbled in Shaikpet Nala area on Monday. Though no casualties have been reported, panic gripped the locality leading to people rushing out of the nearby buildings. The construction was abruptly stopped by the builder, Padmavathi, due to financial constraints and only a week ago the construction resumed.

However, contradictory versions emerged regarding the collapse of the building which completely leaned over the adjacent building towards the right. The land owners maintained that the portion collapsed due to vibrations generated by the digging of bore wells in the vicinity which sunk the main pillars resulting in its collapse.

Police, fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and evacuated the occupants from the adjacent buildings and stopped pedestrians and vehicles from taking the route. Crowds that gathered there caused hindrance to the rescue operations.

DCP (West) A Venkateshwar Rao who visited the spot said that the pillars collapsed causing the building to lean over to the building on its right. GHMC has been informed and occupants were safely evacuated. “The rescue operation is underway and we did not find any casualties,” the DCP said.

Asked if incessant rains could have been a factor in the collapse, the DCP said that all angles will be investigated. A resident of the colony said, “I stay behind the complex and was inside my room and suddenly I felt a loud thud as if an earthquake occurred. My car parked outside was crushed as the floor and walls of the building came crashing down.”