2 weeks Ago
Vadodara: The residents of Surya Kiran Apartments on Samta Road had a close call as the building came crashing down late on Sunday night. The three-storey building had been vacated in the nick of time, when it began shaking. In just a few minutes, the 33-year-old structure collapsed.
The fire brigade was called as two people were feared to be trapped in the debris. No one was found during the search operation that continued till early on Monday morning. "We were about to retire for the night when we heard noises, and our neighbours began rushing out.
We too ran for our lives," said Ramesh Agrawal, a resident. Firemen said the building was dilapidated. One key reason for the collapse is believed to be renovation work happening in a shop on the ground floor.
A wall of the shop was removed during the renovation, and this may have weakened the structure. Vadodara Municipal Corporation executive engineer (west zone) Rajendra Vasava said that the Gujarat Housing Board submitted a preliminary report on the collapse to the civic body. He added that the report observed that ongoing renovation on the ground floor may have caused the collapse.
Vasava said the building was old and VMC had issued three notices to it as it was not fit for use. He added that the building was not vacated despite the notices. Sources said the VMC is planning to take a fresh look at such buildings in the wake of the collapse.
Vadodara: The residents of Surya Kiran Apartments on Samta Road had a close call as the building came crashing down late on Sunday night. The three-storey building had been vacated in the nick of time, when it began shaking. In just a few minutes, the 33-year-old structure collapsed.
The fire brigade was called as two people were feared to be trapped in the debris. No one was found during the search operation that continued till early on Monday morning. "We were about to retire for the night when we heard noises, and our neighbours began rushing out.
We too ran for our lives," said Ramesh Agrawal, a resident. Firemen said the building was dilapidated. One key reason for the collapse is believed to be renovation work happening in a shop on the ground floor.
A wall of the shop was removed during the renovation, and this may have weakened the structure. Vadodara Municipal Corporation executive engineer (west zone) Rajendra Vasava said that the Gujarat Housing Board submitted a preliminary report on the collapse to the civic body. He added that the report observed that ongoing renovation on the ground floor may have caused the collapse.
Vasava said the building was old and VMC had issued three notices to it as it was not fit for use. He added that the building was not vacated despite the notices. Sources said the VMC is planning to take a fresh look at such buildings in the wake of the collapse.
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