Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070960530600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Bodies retrieved from collapsed building

Staff Reporter

The structure under construction had to be demolished to take out the bodies of four persons

The house was built on loose soil of an abandoned wellOfficials unaware of existence of a well there earlier

PHOTO: RAJU V.

Rescue operation: Earthmover at work on Tuesday to remove the debris of the building that collapsed at Moghalrajapuram in Vijayawada on Monday night. —

VIJAYAWADA: Four persons were killed when a building under construction caved in at Moghalrajapuram in the city on Monday night.

Workers engaged by the police and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) recovered the bodies of Konathala Kannayya (65), a watchman on duty on the ground floor of the building, his son Konathala Appayya (40), daughter-in-law Konathala Yerramma (35) and Nukalamma (65), a visitor.

The VMC officials completely demolished the building that collapsed on one side, to retrieve the bodies after 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

The bodies of Appayya and Kannyya were crushed and mutilated under the debris, making the job of rescue teams tougher. The bodies were sent to the Government General Hospital for a post mortem.

Narrow escape for one

“Nukalamma came to the watchman’s house to collect money and was discussing some family matters when the building collapsed,” said Ratnalamma, her sister, who emerged out of the building barely a few minutes before it collapsed.

Preliminary enquiries revealed that the house was built on the loose soil of an abandoned well filled with mud and other materials a decade ago. Assistant City Planner Saibabu said, “We gave permission based on the plan submitted to us. We were unaware of the existence of a well until some years ago.”

Case registered

Police Commissioner K. V. Rajendranath Reddy said the police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by a person injured in the accident. “We have not yet questioned the engineer, builders, owner and Town Planning officials. We need to ascertain how permission was given for the building when a well exited there earlier.”

The police are on look out for property owner V. Ramakrishna.