Bengaluru Mantri mall: Water leak led to wall collapse?

Bengaluru: An expert technical panel has said that extensive leakage and stagnation of water from the AC ducts is said to be the prima-facie reason for collapse of a portion of Mantri Mall in Sampige Road, Malleswaram on January 16, leading to injury of two people. 

The committee submitted the report on the sample survey to the BBMP commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad on Thursday.

Soon after the incident, the BBMP formed an expert committee to ascertain the structural stability and quality of construction materials used for the building. The committee was expected to submit the report within 15 days. 

After collecting the report, Prasad told reporters that it is imperative to get structural stability of the entire mall, where thousands of people frequent on a daily basis. Until the structural stability report is obtained from the builder and the same is examined from the expert committee, the mall will not be allowed to operate. 

The BBMP has already confiscated the commencement certificate (CC) from the mall. 

The technical team visited the spot of accident four times and collected the material used for the construction of the mall and the same was sent to the laboratory for check. After multiple tests at the lab, the committee opined that leakage lead to the corrosion of iron rods used in the cantilever and it lead to the collapse, he said. 

The copy of the report will be sent to the Mantri developers and a structural stability report will be sought from them. Until the mall is thoroughly examined for safety, it will remain shut for all commercial activities, said Prasad. 

Based on the lab reports, the committee has prepared 47–page report Besides, the committee has recommended for safety measures at the Mall.

Mall to remain shut
Until the BBMP issues the commencement certificate (CC), the mall will shut for all commercial activities. The developers are expected to submit a copy of the structural stability report. After the same has been vetted the BBMP would issue CC, Manjunath Prasad said.

• The iron rods used in the cantilever at the passage of third flood got corroded due to the extensive leakage of water from the ACs.
• Wrong reinforcement of iron rods has also lead to the weak structure.
• The mall must set right the shortcomings in the mall.
• Mantri developers must submit a report on the structural stability.
• The mall should comply with the sanctioned building plan.
• ommencement certificate will be issued only if the BBMP is convinced with the safety measures.