2 dead, at least 20 workers injured as under-construction school building collapses in Anekal

ANEKAL: At least two people were dead and 20 workers suffered injuries after under-construction school building collapsed in Anekal. The deceased have been identified as Minar Biswas and Shahid from Jharkhand.

A new building of St Agnes School was being constructed. On Friday morning, the second floor of the building collapsed, leaving two dead and nearly two dozen workers injured. According to sources, the condition of five labourers is critical.

It is said that there is a possibility that some workers being trapped under the debris of the building. Anekal police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and were clearing the debris from the building. The injured workers, all from West Bengal, have been admitted to Nimhans Hospital in Anekal for treatment.

A labourer working at the site said that more than 25 people were involved in the building construction work on the second floor where slab-centering was being laid. At this time, the slab, including concrete and iron, collapsed, mostly due to overweight. At least five of the injured are in critical condition, and they have been shifted to a hospital in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladindi, who visited the site, said, Hospet-based builder Pratap had been contracted with the building construction. “Prima facie, it seems that the iron rods were not bound properly before concreting. There seems to be negligence and no safety measures were taken by the contractor. The police are continuing their investigation. A total of 25 people were working, and 15 people were standing on top and laying concrete. At this time, the slab collapsed. The SDRF team and fire brigade personnel arrived as soon as they got the information and helped get the trapped workers out of the debris”, he said.