This is the moment an apartment block that was only eight years old suddenly collapses as onlookers run in fear in an Indian city that had seen two other buildings collapse in recent days.
The five-storey building, less than a decade old, collapsed in the area of Kasturi Nagar in the city of Bangalore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka on the afternoon of 7th October.
Remarkably, it was the third case of a building collapsing in the city in the last 15 days.
Local media said all residents had been evacuated about an hour before the building collapsed and tilted on its right side, sending plumes of dust and debris in the air.
The building, just eight years old, reportedly had eight apartments and three were occupied.
Indian news site The News Minute said the constructor added an extra floor to the building, going against the approved plans.
The building also did not have an occupancy certificate (OC) from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administrative body for the past seven years, according to The Indian Express.
BBMP commissioner Gaurav Gupta said a first information report (FIR) has been filed and confirmed that “the police are questioning the owner”.
Gupta added: “The permission for the collapsed building was obtained from the BBMP in 2012-13. The owner obtained the site under a special scheme and constructed ground plus two floors.
“Later, the owner built an additional floor and work was going on to build a penthouse. We are obtaining information in this regard.”
The building was a joint venture by Ayesha Baig, Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Iyazuddin and AN Builders, according to Gupta.
Baig reportedly owned four apartments in the building, which had three families living in it at the time of collapse, which had all been sold.
Gupta clarified: “I have spoken to the three families who came out after getting the first indication, and they are safe now.”
Meanwhile, the adjacent buildings have all been evacuated ahead of plans to demolish the collapsed building on 8th October.
According to reports, a building that was home to a group of Bangalore Metro construction employees collapsed in the city on 27th September.
The following day, a building near Dairy Circle in Bangalore collapsed hours after the owners left for work.
Footage of the latest collapse was shared on Twitter by ‘Tweet madi Bengalooru’ with the message: “Very sad to see such things happening in Bangalore. One more building collapses in Kasturi Nagar.
“BBMP engineers time to take up the responsibility and fire those who take such decisions.”
Twitter user ‘Vinay Kayapanda’ commented: “This is just a tip of the iceberg, Bangalore has such buildings spread all across which has flaunted (sic) all the rules in place.”
Netizen ‘SinghVikalp’ said: “Lot of land house owners in Bangalore built 3 to 4 stories without looking (for) safety and approval for same.
“More lives are in risk. Please take immediate action.”
‘IKn Ihcas’ wrote: “This building doesn’t even look 15 years old!”
