Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday visited the site in Secunderabad where an old building collapsed, killing at least ten people and injuring 18 others.
Congress leader Jetti Geeta Reddy, who visited the site, confirmed that the death toll in the accident had touched ten.
“The death toll is ten and there are about 18 people who are injured and being treated in Gandhi Hospital. Government always comes forward in these kinds of situations. We have our ex-gratia for the dead and of course the next of kin and the ones who are being treated in the hospitals will certainly be taken care of,” said Geeta Reddy.
The Congress leader further said that the state government would provide monetary assistance to the kin of people who lost their lives and others who were injured in this accident.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bandaru Dattatreya demanded stringent action against the culprits.
“It is a very sad situation and the government should give 15 hundred thousand rupees as compensation to the kin of the dead and take strict action in the matter. Wherever there are old buildings, like this 70-80 year old building, government and Municipal Corporation should look into the matter to avoid such incidents in future,” said Dattatreya.
Chief City Planning Commissioner, G.V. Raghu, said that they were taking action against old and dilapidated buildings.
“This year, in the last two months only, we have demolished about 17 buildings in the city. 17 buildings have been demolished. Each and every building, we cannot suspect. That is why the some structural methodology, procedural method we have to adopt, like a self auditing system, for more than 50 years or 60 years age buildings, the ones they submit the audit report with a local body, or GHMC,” said Raghu.
The two-storied building of a restaurant, City Light, collapsed with heavy noise trapping several people inside the debris around six thirty this morning.
The injured have been admitted to the Government Gandhi Hospital and the condition of the two is stated to be critical. The number of causalities may go up further. (ANI)