BENGALURU: The death toll in the Bengaluru building collapse increased to five on Wednesday morning as rain continued to batter the IT hub.
The building collapsed on Tuesday afternoon in the Horamavu Agara of Bengaluru. There were around 20 people inside the building at the time it collapsed.
The rescue operation resumed this morning amid a continuous downpour in the city. A dog squad also joined the rescue operation, reported news agency.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday night took stock of the incident spot after the under-construction building collapsed.
Shivakumar claimed that illegal activities were going on and he would take strict action against the owner and everyone.
He said, “I was told that there was no permission given. Illegal activities were going on. We will take strict action against the owner, contractor and everyone. In the entire Bengaluru, I will see that…We will come out with a decision. All the illegal construction will be stopped immediately…Contractor, my officials and even the owner of the property everyone will be booked under the law.” He also mentioned that a 26-year-old man lost his life in the incident.
“As per the information I got, 21 labourers were here. A 26-year-old Arman’s body was recovered. In a day 26 people work here,” Karnataka Dy CM said.
As many as 1,079 houses are inundated with water in Bengaluru and 30 regions are facing the problem of waterlogging following heavy rains in Karnataka’s capital city, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office late on Tuesday.
Thirty teams of the Forest Department, one battalion of NDRF, three teams of SDRF, five teams of Fire and Emergency Services, and 30 teams from BBMP are pressed into the service as the heavy rains disrupted normal life.
At least 16 boats are being used to ferry the people who are stuck in their houses due to water logging and about 25 pump sets of 15 to 25 HP are being used to drain out the water from residential areas, officials said, adding that 30 JCBs are operating to clear the silt.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the city witnessed 300 per cent more rainfall than the normal rains in the season.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the site of a collapsed building in which 21 labourers are feared trapped in Bengaluru, Shivakumar stated: “I have issued directions to officers to break open the doors of those flats in inundated Kendriya Vihar Apartment and shift the residents to a safe location.”
“About seven to eight families are refusing to move out of their houses. As the apartment is inundated, if anything happens, we will be accountable. Hence, I have issued orders to my officers to break open the doors and move them out,” he added.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Yelahanka, Mahadevapura, and Dasarahalli zones in Bengaluru have received heavy rains in the last 72 hours. Due to this, the lakes are overflowing and tankbunds are broken, resulting in the inundation of various localities.
The Chowdeshwarinagar locality has witnessed 160 mm of rain, which is the highest in history.
In October, Bengaluru received 245 mm of rainfall, which is among the four highest rains.
Sixteen locations in Yelahanka zone including the Kendriya Vihar Apartment, Ramanashree California, Chitrakoota Apartment, Tata Nagar, and Bhadrappa Layout are inundated.
Seven locations including Wipro premises on Sarjapur Road in Mahadevapura zone and six localities in Dasarahalli zone are facing water logging issues.
At least 600 families and 2,500 persons were evacuated from the Kendriya Vihar Apartment. 3,500 bottles of five liters; 1,000 litres of milk; 1,000 packets of snacks, and 6,600 food packets have been distributed to the affected people, the Chief Minister’s Office stated.