Two Killed After Under-Construction Building Collapses in Madhapur

Two workers were killed and several others sustained injuries after an under-construction seven-storey building collapsed at Anjaiah Nagar in Madhapur on Saturday afternoon.

The structure, which was built on a 50-square-yard plot over a nala drain box in complete violation of building norms, came crumbling down in parts around 1 pm. The two deceased workers, identified as Mahtab and Umesh from Madhya Pradesh, were engaged in laying tiles inside the building when the collapse occurred.

Debris from the collapsing structure fell onto neighbouring buildings, injuring several people who were subsequently shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Residents of the neighbouring Jayadarshini Residency reported hearing a massive sound and initially mistook the collapse for an earthquake, prompting people from surrounding dwellings to rush onto the streets in panic.

Teams from the local police, HYDRAA, the Fire Department, and the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation rushed to the site immediately following the incident. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and other emergency rescue agencies were deployed with specialised equipment to search through the rubble for any trapped survivors.

Cyberabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner G Srijana and HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath visited the location to oversee and review the rescue operations. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Ranganath confirmed that two bodies had been retrieved from the debris and stated that search efforts were continuing. He added that an inspection would be conducted in coordination with municipal officials to examine the constructions and initiate action against owners found violating regulations.

Officials stated that a builder named Sajid had been constructing similar illegal structures on small patches of land, and confirmed that action would be initiated against him.

Local residents stated that the structure had been raised illegally despite multiple complaints submitted to municipal authorities. Residents noted that the impact could have been worse had the collapse occurred later in the evening when children usually play in the area, and questioned how such a large building was permitted on a small plot over a drain.