Bhadrachalam: One labourer has died and another continues to remain trapped under the rubble in Telangana's Bhadrachalam, where a six-storey under-construction building collapsed on Wednesday afternoon.
As per the latest inputs received on Thursday morning, Kameshwara Rao, a mason, was pulled out alive after midnight following a gruelling 10-hour rescue operation. He, however, succumbed while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.
Rescue teams had provided Rao with Oxygen and water as they attempted to pull him out. Another mason, Upendra, is still trapped under the rubble, and attempts are being made to rescue him.
Since there was open space next to the building, the rescue team dug into the foundation of the building and went to the ground floor from there to bring Rao out.
Collector Jitesh V Patil and SP Rohit Raj, who were at the spot, said rescuers tried hard for 10 hours and pulled Rao out, but he died in the hospital of the injuries he had suffered in the crash. They said that it would take longer to reach Upendra as he is trapped in an even deeper spot than Rao. Upendra's family members are at the spot, praying for his safety.
Fresh Construction On Top Of An Old Building
The building located in the Bhadrachalam Super Bazaar Centre suddenly collapsed at around 2.40 pm on Wednesday. While initial inputs suggested at least six labourers had been trapped under it, officials have not confirmed the same.
For now, they say only two masons -- Rao and Upendra -- were inside the building when it collapsed. Visuals from the spot showed slabs of at least four fallen floors lying one upon another as crowds of onlookers strolled around the spot, trying to figure out what had happened. Rescue teams at the spot are clearing the debris using bulldozers and other heavy machinery. A temple was also being constructed next to the building.
No permission for the construction
As per local inputs, the authorities had issued notices to stop the construction work several times as the owner had not received any permission for the same.
Officials said that the building owner SK Maulana alias Sripathi Srinivas, had been carrying out the construction work for the past two years. He had constructed 5 floors on thin pillars on a 20-year-old building, they said. Sources said he had raised donations in the name of Sripathi Seva Trust to carry out the construction.
How did the accident happen?
Officials believe that the accident occurred due to construction defects, as the original old structure could not withstand the fresh construction. Special teams and machines were sought from ITC to join the rescue operations at the collapse site.
Bhadradri Kothagudem District SP V Patil has been closely monitoring the relief operations. A medical team is on the spot to transport the rescued person to the hospital.
Rescue Operation Underway After 24 Hours
Rescue operations are still underway to save the person, who was trapped in the debris. Rescue workers are continuing their efforts to pull him out. Since there was an empty space next to the building, the rescue team dug into the foundation of the building from the empty space and went to the ground floor from there and brought Kameshwara Rao out. The Collector and SP said that they tried hard for 10 hours and pulled out one person. Upendra's family members cried and demanded that he should be pulled out.
