5 killed in building collapse after heavy rain in Bengaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, October 23, 2024: The death count in the Bengaluru building collapse increased to five on Wednesday morning as rain continued to batter the IT hub. Efforts are underway to clear the debris and rescue the trapped persons. Five people have been injured and 13 have been rescued so far, officials said.

The under-construction building collapsed last afternoon in the Horamavu Agara area in the eastern part of Bengaluru. There were around 20 people inside the building at the time of the collapse, said officials.

The rescue operation resumed this morning amid a continuous downpour in the city. A dog squad also joined the rescue operation, reported news agency ANI.

One of the trapped persons, Ayaaz, was rescued alive after being stuck for nearly 16 hours.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the collapse site on Tuesday night, stating that 21 people were trapped under the debris. The under-construction building was being built illegally, he said, assuring that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

"The search for the others continues. First we will complete the rescue work and then give a suitable solution. NDRF, SDRF rescue team, fire brigade, and police have done well. I have ordered action against the owners of buildings constructed illegally without permission in Bengaluru. This incident is a lesson for us. To prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future, it will be made mandatory to obtain permission for the buildings and a team will be deployed to monitor the buildings under construction," he wrote in a post on X.

Waterlogging continued to hamper daily lives in several parts of Bengaluru, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a ’yellow’ alert for heavy rainfall through the day. The city administration has declared a holiday for schools today, while the IT companies have also advised to permit their employees to work from home.