Nine persons were buried alive and nine others injured when the Maharani Municipal Market building at Gadwal collapsed around 4.30 p.m. on Monday due to rain during the day and on June 13. Two of the injured admitted to Kurnool Government Hospital were in a serious condition.
The market was crowded in view of the weekly ‘shandy'. Seven of the victims were identified as Sandhya (30), Neramma (35), Nagamma (30), Shankarbaba (28), Boddenna (35), Peddajayappa (30) and Azam (12). An old woman remained unidentified at the Government Hospital, Gadwal. Renamma (25) died on the way to hospital.
Gadwal SI Ravinder Reddy and RDO Ashok Kumar supervised the debris-clearance work. Former Minister D. K. Samarasimha Reddy, while condoling the deaths, demanded higher compensation as the victims were poor. He recalled a proposal to re-construct the building 17 years ago, but not considered.
K. Venkat Reddy, Minister for IT, who is in-charge of Mahabubnagar district, while expressing grief, assured the victims' families of government assistance. He directed the Collector and officials to take up relief work.
