Bengaluru building turns into ‘Leaning Tower’!

The property, located at 2nd Cross, Doctor’s Layout, Kasturinagar (ward 50), is constructed on stilts and has four floors with eight flats, 2 flats per floor. It was found leaning towards the east.

Following the incident, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta issued an order late on Thursday suspending the ward’s Assistant Engineer Shankarappa for ‘dereliction of duty’. The order stated that the engineer had failed to prevent the illegal construction of an extra floor to the building. Furthermore, the building did not have an occupancy certificate.

Gupta said the building plan was sanctioned in 2012-13, vide SP No: 0639/2012-13 dated 28-09-2012, under the ‘Suvarna Paravanagi’. Only three flats were occupied while five were vacant. The residents of the three flats were evacuated, Gupta said.

Demolition planned

On Thursday afternoon, after BBMP officials were informed that the apartment building was leaning towards the east, a civic team rushed to the spot and evacuated those residing inside. As a precautionary measure, occupants of the surrounding buildings were also evacuated.. BBMP is planning to demolish the building with the help of the police and the fire department, Gupta said.

Following the incident, the civic chief ordered soil testing around the leaning building as well as neighbouring buildings immediately. He also ordered the East zone Joint Commissioner and Chief Engineer to conduct a thorough survey of other buildings in Doctor’s Layout.