Bengaluru: After the tragic building collapse at a construction site in Bengaluru which claimed the lives of eight laborers and left six others injured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Meanwhile PM Modi also announced financial aid, pledging Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of each deceased victim, and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
The decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was later followed by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the collapse site, accompanied by local MLA Byrati Basavaraj and BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath. The Chief Minister announced an additional Rs 5 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased, with Rs 2 lakh provided by the Labor Department and Rs 3 lakh from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Arrangements would be made to transport the bodies of victims: Siddaramaiah
Additionally, in a statement to the media, CM Siddaramaiah confirmed that the state government would bear all medical expenses for the injured. He also emphasised that arrangements would be made to transport the bodies of the victims, many of whom were migrant laborers from other states, to their home regions.
ಬಾಬುಸಾಬ್ ಪಾಳ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಹಂತದ ಕಟ್ಟಡ ಕುಸಿತ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ 8 ಜನರ ಸಾವು ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದ್ದು, ಅವರ ಶವಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರತೆಗೆಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಉಳಿದಂತೆ 8 ಜನರನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಆರು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಸಣ್ಣಪುಟ್ಟ ಗಾಯಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಉಳಿದವರಿಗೆ ಗಂಭೀರ ಗಾಯಗಳಾಗಿವೆ. ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವವರು ಪ್ರಾಣಾಪಾಯದಿಂದ ಪಾರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ತುಸು… pic.twitter.com/rNhQip3uMb
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 24, 2024
Disciplinary action against officials
The Chief Minister further revealed that the building was being constructed without proper authorisation, lacking the necessary permits and licenses. Despite previous warnings, construction had continued. As a result, disciplinary action has been taken, with the suspension of the assistant engineer involved in the project. Senior officials have been instructed to investigate the role of the BBMP’s zonal officer and probe the negligence that led to this tragedy.
Notably, the structure, still under development, gave way, leading to a devastating loss of life. Rescue efforts, led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are still ongoing as authorities work to recover victims from the rubble.
