Tragedy struck Bengaluru, India on Tuesday as an under-construction building collapsed in the midst of heavy rainfall, claiming the lives of at least five people and leaving multiple others injured. The incident, which occurred during a period of intense downpour, has prompted a massive rescue operation involving teams from the fire and emergency department, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), authorities have confirmed the recovery of five bodies from the rubble, while five injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals. More than thirteen people have been successfully rescued from the site, but search and rescue efforts are ongoing as three individuals are believed to be trapped.
“So far, five bodies have been recovered and five others are injured. An operation is underway to trace another three who are suspected to be trapped,” stated D Devaraja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Bengaluru).
The collapse has sparked immediate outrage and criticism from the opposition, who are accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of negligence and corruption. BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari, referring to the structure as an ‘illegal construction,’ has pointed the finger at the state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and Mallikarjun Kharge. He accused the government of prioritizing land grabbing over the safety and well-being of its citizens.
“It is unfortunate that the corrupt Karnataka Government did not know that an unauthorised building construction was taking place in Bengaluru. The Karnataka Government of the Congress party, which is neck-deep in corruption, has caused a bad name to Silicon Valley,” Bhandari asserted. “It is unfortunate that the only focus of the Karnataka Government of Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and Kharge is to loot the land of the poor, not to take care of the common man. Bengaluru has never seen such apathetic misgovernance as it is seen now. This has led to loss of common lives, of innocent lives. This is not merely an accident, this is akin to murder and the State is accountable for it. The Karnataka Congress Government needs to answer that if it is so cognizant of the poor, how is it possible that in the heart of the city an unauthorised construction came up because of which now lives have been lost… The buck does not stop on any official, the buck stops with the CM of Karnataka…”
As rescue efforts continue, the focus shifts to investigating the cause of the collapse and identifying any potential lapses in building regulations and safety procedures. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust safety measures and strict enforcement of building codes in urban areas, particularly in the face of extreme weather events.
