Hyderabad hotel collapse death toll rises to 18

HYDERABAD:ANDHRA PRADESH:08/07/2013:Rescue workers look for survivors at the site of a collapsed building at R.P.Road in Secunderabad on Monday.An official said at least 10 people killed and others injured after a City Light hotel collapsed. ---------PHOTO: G_RAMAKRISHNA

The death toll in the City Light hotel and bakery building collapse rose to 18 on Wednesday with one more person succumbing to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Gandhi hospital, the police said.

Thirty-two-year-old Nagesh, a DCM van owner-cum-driver, who battled for life for over eight days having suffered grievous wounds when the building collapsed on July 8, died late on Tuesday night. Hailing from Andhole of Medak district, the victim used to live in Ambedkarnagar of Marredpally.

Nagesh came to the hotel to have a cup of tea on the morning of July 8 when it crumbled around 6.20 a.m. Seventeen persons died in the building collapse while 20 sustained critical wounds including Nagesh.

The Mahankali police had already registered a case of rash and negligent act resulting in death against the hotel owner. No arrests were made so far in the case. “Among the 18 dead in the building collapse were the hotel owner’s son and nephew. He went into depression and fell sick after the incident. He will be arrested in a day or two,” the Mahankali ACP N. Mahender said.