Five migrant labourers killed in wall collapse

BANGALORE: Five daily wage labourers hailing from Bihar were killed on the spot and three others suffered grievous injuries after a brick wall, 35 feet high, of an illegal warehouse collapsed on them at a construction site in the C.K. Palya area of Mantapa Gram Panchayat near Bannerghatta around 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Appalling quality

The poor quality of the construction was apparent from the fact that chunks of binding material used in the wall were crumbling in one's fist. The owner of the site, Srinivas Reddy, is absconding.

The dead men are Rajiv (60), Sanjeev (28), Raju (60), Jugal (40) and Pargu (40) and the injured are were identified as Sonu (35), Santosh (18) and Paramanand Chowdary (35).

Head, spine injuries

V.L. Satish, Medical Superintendent of NIMHANS, told The Hindu that Mr. Santosh is in a semi-conscious state after sustaining severe head injuries and is being kept under observation. Mr. Chowdhary's thoracic spine has been badly injured resulting in the weakening of his limbs.

Nagarjuna (22), a resident of Mulbagal who was working at the site, had a miraculous escape, suffering only minor injuries. “All I remember is that the wall started slanting toward us. I woke up in the hospital later,” he told The Hindu. He said the wall was being plastered when it collapsed.

Not an ounce of sand

A team of experts, who visited the spot with Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje, found that the binding material used did not even have an ounce of sand and contained very little cement. Instead of sand, the builder used cheaply available granite dust in the mix procured from nearby stone quarries, the experts said.

Based on his initial observations, Home Minister R. Ashok, who claimed to have some knowledge of constructions, said that only 25 per cent of the required steel was used. He also said: “Investigations have revealed that no engineer was hired by the builder. He (Srinivas Reddy) is the owner, structural engineer as well as work supervisor at the site.”

Unauthorised construction

Local MLA M. Krishnappa of the BJP said that the construction was completely illegal and unauthorised.

“They have not converted the land (from agricultural to non-agricultural use). They have not paid any taxes or sought any permission from the gram panchayat and the Revenue Department,” he said.

Both Ms. Karandlaje and Mr. Ashok expressed concern over the rash of illegal constructions that were sprouting in the rural areas adjoining the city. They were of the opinion that a comprehensive, statewide policy should be framed to regulate quality standards of constructions falling outside municipal areas.