Bangalore Sweatbox

NNTV, Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Bangalore buildings crying for attention

by Pavitra Jayaraman

A happy occasion turned into a tragedy in Bangalore. A balcony overcrowded with people collapsed and left seven people dead.

The Bangalore city corporation says the contractor had illegally let the building out on rent without clearance from the corporation.

Thirteen-year old Ayesha is in shock and is bruised all over, she shudders as she thinks of Tuesday evening when she was leaning over the balcony watching a neighbour's "haldi ceremony" when the balcony on which she was standing suddenly gave way.

It took just a few minutes for the mood to change from happy wedding celebrations to utter chaos when a balcony in the building crashed and killed seven people.

Residents of the building are still in panic about the state of the building and blame the BBMP for not taking any responsibility. Meanwhile at least 20 people still lay injured in various hospitals.

The state governor visited and announced a compensation for the injured and the family of the dead.

"I am told that the building has not been cleared for occupation. We have to see whether they were authorised occupants or not. When you have a function with 40 persons leaning on the balcony, it cannot hold," said BBMP Commissioner.

While the contractor of the building in question will be interrogated, other BBMP will come under immediate scrutiny.

Jaquelin stands nervously outside her house to try and retrieve some money from inside, so she can pay the hospital bills of her injured sister. But the building is still screaming danger and no authority is willing to show her a safe way out.

"They are asking me to go upstairs and get the money myself, how is it possible? Ask them to do it, I will tell them where it is," said Jaquelin.

This is the fourth building that has collapsed in the city this year. The first one occurred when a portion of a two storied building collapsed and took the life of a two-year-old.

The second claimed two lives while the most recent one in November took two lives as well. Events that are a clear indication that while concrete Bangalore grows the existing buildings are crying for attention.

#    posted by Mark Pritchard @ 9:39 AM