50 families dread losing their homes

BANGALORE: It's been a week since the stilt floor of an under-construction building caved in at Someshwaranagar, near Nimhans, but there seems to be no end to the plight of 50 families in the vicinity. They fear BBMP's demolition, which started on Sunday afternoon, may damage their houses and render them homeless.

BBMP has already evacuated 23 families from houses surrounding the eight-storey building, following fears the illegal structure may collapse on them. The building is part of a three-tower apartment complex.

"Our house suffered maximum damage due to the collapse. We'll need to spend around Rs 4 lakh to repair the cracks in the walls and ceiling," said Saira Banu, who lives in an adjacent house. She has taken refuge in a neighbour's house.

She recalled the day when a cement bag fell on her daughter, a fortnight before the building gave way. "The builders blamed my daughter for playing near the building. They told me, 'Your daughter is still alive, be happy. She's suffered minor injuries. We'll pay for her treatment'. They told me to keep my mouth shut," Banu told TOI.

People living in the area belong to the low-income group and haven't been paid any compensation though they're on the streets. Worse, they can't even walk through the bylanes full of debris and workers.

"I haven't been able to enter my house for eight days now. Though we temporarily shifted to a relative's house in Jayanagar 3rd Block, I come here during the day to guard my belongings. My house developed cracks after the building collapsed, but I fear that demolition may widen these cracks," said Shivakumar, a taxi driver whose house is situated behind the illegal structure.

"We know these buildings are illegally built but who is educated enough to know what the rule book says. Who has the audacity to fight these rich men?" asked Manjula Venkatesh, a garment factory worker. Her ailing father and little son have also been staying with a neighbour since the incident.

Residents also told TOI the land used to be a nursery and apartments have sprung up here. "Nine projects are coming up in the area," said Shivakumar.

"Our first priority is to demolish the building. Then, we'll decide what to do with the two other buildings in the complex," BBMP commissioner M Lakshminarayana said.

Expert speak

A geotechnical study should be conducted before constructing a building. If the ground can withstand a concrete structure, we should analyze how deep the foundation should be. It also depends on the height of the structure. The builder should stick to the sanctioned plan, and hire competent engineers. BBMP must inspect the project during construction, so that such disasters can be averted.

BSC Rao | forensic civil engineer

The plight of these 50 families living around the building whose stilt floor caved in Someshwaranagar, near NIMHANS, is miserable to say the least. Three people were killed in the accident last Monday.

The BBMP began demolishing the building on Sunday afternoon. The noise and dust have instilled a fear among residences of other adjacent houses whether there structures are under any further threat.