Cuttack: The Cuttack Administration has constituted a committee to examine the circumstances leading to the collapse of a balcony of an old five-storey apartment building at Buxi Bazar in the city.
Three persons, including a minor boy, were killed and another three were seriously injured as the asbestos roof of their house near Hadi Bandhu School in Mani Sahu Chhak area caved in after the dilapidated balcony fell on it at around 4.45 pm on Saturday.
Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde informed that the probe panel, including Additional Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) planning authority, the City Engineer, and the R&D Superintendent Engineer, has been asked to submit its report by Monday evening.
The Collector said that the team will examine regulatory, planning and safety aspects. “There are allegations that some portions of the apartment were declared unsafe and changes were made to the structure without prior permission. Necessary action will be taken based on the findings. If the collapse was an accident, no complaint will be filed, but negligence or regulatory violations will lead to strict action,” he said.
Source said that it is a 25-year-old structure and five storeys were built while permission was granted for only two. Lack of maintenance was the main cause of dilapidation of the building.
Shinde said that the the process of evacuating people from unsafe buildings was stalled due to the monsoon. “The buildings identified as unsafe will be demolished soon following the due process as per the Supreme Court guidelines,” he said.
He added that a meeting with all departments concerned is scheduled after Bali Jatra, during which a clear directive will be issued.
In August, the additional district magistrate (ADM)-cum-nodal officer, Cuttack, had submitted a comprehensive report in Orissa High Court, mentioning 221 unsafe buildings, which are under the ownership of eight public authorities and two private individuals, in the city.
The Collector further informed that the condition of the three injured persons, undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, is stable.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the family of the three persons. The CMC has also announced Rs 10,000 financial assistance each for the next of kin of the victims.
Earlier in the day, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra had said that the process of identifying and demolishing unsafe buildings will be accelerated. “The Works Department is responsible for declaring a building unsafe, while the Urban Development Department will ensure its demolition. The government will take responsibility for unsafe official buildings, but private property owners must remain vigilant and act responsibly,” the minister added.
