Pune building collapse: builder booked for culpable homicide

The district administration is mulling over a structural stability audit to combat the mushrooming of unauthorized structures in the 34 villages in and around the Narhe-Ambegaon area.

The Pune police on Saturday lodged a case of culpable homicide against a city-based builder in connection with the collapse of a five-storey building in the Narhe-Ambegaon suburb that killed one person.

The builder, Kishore Vadgama of VK Associates, the plot owner and the structural engineer have been booked under section 304 (a) of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide, said sources at the Sinhagad police station.

The newly-constructed five-storey Pitaram Complex collapsed like a pack of cards early on Friday morning,killing 28-year-old IT professional Sandeep Mohite who was trapped under the debris for more than 12 hours. Ironically, it was Mr. Mohite who had alerted the 28 other residents of the impending collapse. Most of the eight families who survived the collapse were living on rent, while those who owned the flats were away.

According to residents, the builder was informed of the steady deterioration of the structure.

“Despite being shown cracks on the walls on Thursday, the day before the accident, Vadgama had assured us that he would get it repaired soon. The building did not even last 12 hours of the builder’s promise,” said a resident.

An FIR has also been filed against the trio by the district administration.

“The construction was utterly sub-standard. The fifth storey was added in flagrant violation of the MRTP Act. Furthermore, the necessary plinth checking and building completion certificates were not obtained from the district administration,” said acting District Collector Pradeep Patil.

The building, with five floors, 20 apartments and a parking lot, was constructed barely a year ago.

In the aftermath of the collapse, the district administration is mulling over a structural stability audit to combat the mushrooming of unauthorized structures in the 34 villages in and around the Narhe-Ambegaon area.

This is the third incident to occur in Pune in two years. In September 2012, six persons were killed on the spot and several injured after a four-storey residential building caved in the city’s Sahakar Nagar area. In December that same year, 13 labourers were killed when a slab of an under-construction building collapsed at Wagholi, 20 km from Pune.