The death toll from the building collapse in Bengaluru’s Hennur area increased to five on Wednesday morning, as rescue operations continued into their second day. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been working tirelessly to clear debris and rescue those trapped since the seven-storey building collapsed on Tuesday evening. Authorities believe at least 17 people were inside the building at the time of the collapse, all of whom were construction workers living under the structure.
More than 10 people have been rescued so far, with five of them being admitted to the hospital due to severe injuries. Rescue efforts have continued for over 16 hours as workers attempt to locate and free others who are feared to still be under the debris.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the accident site and assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the collapse. “I was informed that this building was an illegal construction without proper permissions. Strict action will be taken against the builder, contractor, and everyone involved,” Shivakumar stated. He further directed city officials to identify other illegal structures in Bengaluru and halt their construction immediately.
The tragic collapse occurred at around 4 PM on Tuesday. The first confirmed fatality was a 26-year-old man named Armaan, a laborer from Bihar whose body was recovered from the rubble. All those trapped are believed to be laborers who were living in the building during its construction.
Heavy rain, which has lashed Bengaluru in recent days, is suspected to have contributed to the building’s collapse. The city recorded 186.2 mm of rainfall, the highest single-day total in the last 25 years. The northern parts of Bengaluru were particularly hard-hit, with severe waterlogging and widespread traffic disruptions. Several apartments in the Yelahanka area were submerged as the downpour caused havoc across the city.
Sources By Agencies