At least six killed as two buildings, one of which was under-construction, collapsed at Thomas Town, near Hutchins Road early on Wednesday. According to preliminary reports, rescue operations are ongoing with people trapped in both buildings. Four others have been rescued from under the debris.
The rescue operations are being overseen by personnel from Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force and Karnataka Civil Defence teams.
According to G.M. Ravindra, Joint Commissioner of East zone, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the under construction building collapsed first, which caused the four-year-old apartment adjacent to it to also collapse at the street level. He said the building housed 8 apartments and all the 40 residents were evacuated immediately. "However, we have been told that the apartment watchman and his family lived in the basement. The building seems to have collapsed on them. We are not able to access them. The rescue teams are trying to assess how they can be rescued, if they are alive."
He said that it was faulty building design that caused the tragedy. Prima facie, the foundation should have been stronger.
The 40 residents of the apartment are now staying in another building in the same area, he said and added that the BBMP had now filed an FIR against the builders, architects and owners of both buildings and sites.
