One dead, 7 missing in Bengaluru building collapse

BENGALURU: One worker was killed and 14 rescued after an under-construction building collapsed in Babusapalya here on Tuesday amid heavy rains, officials said.

Two rescue vans from the fire and emergency department have been pressed into rescue operations. “Approximately 20 people were trapped. One body has been recovered, 14 workers have been rescued and five are still missing,” D. Devaraja, deputy commissioner of police (East Bengaluru) told media. It is a sevenstorey building, he said.

According to preliminary inquiry, the entire building collapsed following which people got trapped underneath, a fire department official said. The deceased was identified as Arman (26), police said while adding that seven persons were still missing.

Reports said that a labourer identified as Chotu managed to escape with minor injuries and confirmed that 20 people were trapped. Meanwhile, MLA Byrathi Basavaraj visited the accident spot and reviewed the situation. The MLA said that the building owner identified as Muniraju Reddy, a resident of Andhra Pradesh availed permission for construction of four-floors but took up construction of additional two floors leading to the collapse.

At least five people were killed in separate rain-related incidents on Tuesday in Bengaluru, which has been reeling under incessant rains for the past three days causing widespread flooding in several residential areas and turning roads into virtual rivers.