Bengaluru: A report by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) into the Babusapalya building collapse incident that claimed eight lives in October last year claimed that the mishap happened due to improper laying of the foundation, not the poor quality of construction material.
Earlier, it was said that the under construction building collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the city. Apart from other government agencies, the IISc has also submitted its report to the Hennur police, who are investigating the incident.
The report claims that the main cause of the mishap was the improper laying of the foundation, the contractor raised the platform to lay foundation by dumping soil. The pillars laid on the unstable based failed to bear the weight of the building leading to the tragedy on October 22. The IISC had collected samples of soil, iron and cement from the debris.
Now, based on the report’s findings, Hennur police have started looking into the new aspects of investigation into the case.
The incident let to massive debate over the unregulated construction works in the city. Questions were also raised on the involvement of the govt agencies like BBMP and local police.
The building owner Muniraju Reddy from Andhra Pradesh and his son Bhuvan Reddy, who stays in Bengaluru’s Malleshwaram, have already been arrested.
Babusapalya building collapse incident
A six-storey under construction building had collapsed on October 22 last year leading to eight deaths. Several media reports claimed that the building was being constructed on a 60×40 plot on a 15-ft road, while as per the BBMP guidelines only Ground+3 floors can be constructed here.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while conceding that the building was illegal, said that the owner was issued three notices. “It’s a big illegality that they have constructed such a big building on a 60×40 plot, our officers have issued three notices to them. But that’s not all, they should have taken action against it,” News18 quoted Shivakumar.
Taking a lesson from the incident, Shivakumar had also assured to carry out a survey across the city against the illegal buildings.
