New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Thursday following the tragic collapse of an under-construction building in Bengaluru. He announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
In a post on the social media platform X, he stated: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Bengaluru. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000: PM @narendramodi.”
Anguished by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Bengaluru. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased. The…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 23, 2024
Death toll rises to eight
The death toll from the incident, which occurred in the Babusapalya area of the city, has now risen to eight, and three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to reports, permission was granted only for a four-storey building, but seven floors were constructed instead. The city’s civic body, BBMP, has suspended Assistant Executive Engineer Vinay K with immediate effect for serious dereliction of duty related to the incident.
‘Construction was carried out illegally’
“It is reported that the building has been under construction for the last two years, yet BBMP officials did not take any action to halt it. We have found that no notice was served while the construction progressed from the foundation to the fourth floor,” news agency PTI quoted Lokayukta Justice B S Patil as saying.
He further stated that inspections revealed the absence of a license, and there was no sanctioned plan for such a large building, indicating that the construction was carried out illegally.
