The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Nehrupuram building residents living in fear

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Nehrupuram building residents living in fear

Afshan Yasmeen

Human rights panel seeks an explanation from BBMP

Human rights panel has taken up suo motu case
BBMP official still collecting details of the incident

BANGALORE: Twenty days after a balcony of the housing quarters in Nehrupuram of Bharatinagar collapsed killing eight persons, residents of the 54 flats in this building continue to live under fear.

With the balconies and staircases of several other flats in the quarters showing signs of being weak, residents are spending sleepless nights. Nothing has changed for them after that fateful day when an occasion of joy (a function preceding a wedding in the neighbouring flat) turned into mourning in seconds.

Several of their near and dear ones standing on the second floor balcony of the bride’s residence witnessing the haldi (pre-nuptial ceremony) went hurtling down when the floor beneath gave way. Eight persons who were seriously injured in the fall died in hospital.

“We are yet to recover from the trauma of seeing our dear ones dead. The bride’s family now stays in a relative’s house while the rest of us are still here. We did not celebrate Bakrid too,” Ruqsar Begum, whose sister Dilshad Begum was seriously injured in the accident, said.

The only relief comes from the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, which has taken serious note of the incident.

The Commission has directed Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner S. Subramanya to explain the circumstances that led to the collapse and the next course of action.

Although BBMP actually owns the building, contractor Sriramaiah, who was entrusted with the work in 1984, did not hand over the quarters to the civic body as his bills were not cleared.

He let out the flats for a nominal rent and after his death, the occupants continued to stay for free.

State Human Rights Commission Chairman S.R. Nayak told The Hindu that a suo motu case had been taken up against the civic body.

“It is unfortunate that even 20 days after eight persons were killed following the collapse, the officials are yet to decide on how to protect the other residents from a similar accident,” he said.

Although the BBMP officials had promised to study the structural stability of the building within a week and decide on its renovation or reconstruction, they were yet to ascertain the reason for the collapse.

Special Commissioner (Development) K.R. Sreenivas, who had been asked by the Commissioner to study the structural soundness of the building and submit a report within a week, said he was collecting details from the area engineers.

Mr. Subramanya said the report could not be prepared within the stipulated period because Mr. Sreenivas had to attend a compulsory official training.

“He is on the job and the report will be ready soon. Meanwhile, I have asked the civil engineering consultancy Torsteel Research Foundation to conduct an independent study on the structural stability of the building.

“We will shortly take a decision on whether to demolish the building and rebuild or just take up repairs,” he added.

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