In a tragic incident, a six-storied building under construction at Babu Sa Palya, under the jurisdiction of Hennur Police Station, suddenly collapsed around 3:40 pm on October 22, killing five workers and trapping several workers under the debris. Initial reports indicate that at least five workers are still unaccounted for, and the death toll is feared to rise as rescue operations continue.
The collapse occurred while around 20 labourers were working at the site. Several of them, including a woman, were reportedly on the ground floor when the building came crashing down. Authorities have confirmed that 12 people have been rescued from different sections of the debris, while many remain trapped.
Teams from the fire brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police rushed to launch a rescue operation. Jisan, Mahmud Sahil, Rashid, Sitare, Ilif, Sohil, and Pradeep Reddy, all from Bihar and Chittoor, were pulled out safely by the rescue teams. Although these individuals escaped with minor injuries, others, including Jagamma, Mallappa, and Nagaraju from Yadgiri, as well as Ramesh Kumar and Paswan from Bihar, sustained severe injuries and were admitted to local hospitals.
Meanwhile, a frantic search is ongoing for the missing workers, including Mohammad Armaan, Mohammad Arshad, Tirupali, Solopashwan from Bihar, and Tulsi Reddy and Gajendra from Chittoor. Authorities are also attempting to ascertain Gajendra’s hometown.
Eyewitnesses and experts on the scene suspect poor construction practices may have led to the disaster. Initial assessments suggest that iron rods were not properly installed in the foundation, compromising the building’s structural integrity. This raises serious questions about the oversight and compliance checks conducted by the responsible authorities during the construction process.
According to police, the building’s owner, Muniraju Reddy, his son Mohan Reddy, and the construction engineer all went missing following the incident. A search is underway to locate them, as their presence is crucial to the ongoing investigation. “It is suspected that poor workmanship is the reason behind the building collapse. The owner, his son, and the construction engineer are missing, and we are trying to find them,” said a police spokesperson.
The tragedy has exposed potential regulatory failures by the civic authorities. It is reported that most of the construction work had been completed, with painting and tiling underway. However, there were glaring lapses in safety protocols. Large pits had been dug around the building’s base to construct a compound wall, and these pits were filled with water after heavy rains on Tuesday afternoon, increasing the likelihood of a collapse due to soil instability.
Eyewitnesses also claimed to have seen cracks forming around the building foundation before the incident, yet the site management took no corrective action. With most of the structure collapsing onto an adjacent vacant plot, the magnitude of the disaster could have been much worse.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are using JCB machines, the Dog Squad, and other equipment to carefully clear the debris. However, large concrete pillars have significantly slowed the process, with rescuers struggling to reach the trapped workers. Over 50 fire brigade personnel, along with police officials, are on-site, and Additional Police Commissioner Satish Kumar has inspected the area to assess the situation.
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as family members of the workers gathered at the site, desperate for news of their loved ones. Many broke down upon seeing the scale of the destruction, their grief compounded by the lack of immediate accountability from the authorities and building contractors. An aggrieved woman, who was seen weeping at the scene, said, “We sent them to work for a better life, and now they are buried under this debris. Who will answer for this?”
Local leaders and labour rights activists have begun to question the role of civic authorities in ensuring building safety. The incident has sparked outrage, with accusations of negligence being directed toward municipal officials who approved the construction without rigorous inspection protocols.
Bengaluru DCP East Division, Devaraj, acknowledged the incident and assured that efforts are underway to rescue those still trapped. “20 workers were on-site when the incident occurred. Some have been rescued, but the operation is still ongoing. We will ensure a thorough investigation into the cause of this disaster,” he said.
Local MLA Bairati Suresh and other senior officials have also arrived at the site, pledging support for the affected families and vowing to take strong action against those responsible for the mishap.
The building collapse at Babu Sa Palya has once again highlighted the issue of unregulated construction practices and the lack of accountability from civic bodies. As rescue operations continue, the families of the missing workers, along with the broader community, await answers and justice for this avoidable tragedy.
