Date:13/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111320920300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Engineer dies as structure crashes

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A civil engineer died on the spot when the centring of a commercial building under construction collapsed on him in MICO Layout police station limits on Sunday. A few people were injured.

The police gave the name of the engineer as Prashanth V. Deshpande (39), a resident of Ramamurthynagar. The incident occurred at a site near Forum Mall in Koramangala at 2.30 a.m.

The police said on hearing a cracking noise, around 20 people working at the site rushed out. However, Deshpande came right under the falling debris and died on the spot. Two workers suffered fracture and six others received minor injuries, the police said. MICO Layout police have registered a case of negligence leading to death against the construction company.

BMP stand

The BMP said it was in no way responsible for the incident. According to an official press release, a private builder recently started construction after approval of the plan in November 2005. Notices were issued and appropriate steps taken by BMP engineers in October and November when they found deviations from the approved plan. The BMP had also asked the builders to stop the construction.