Two killed in Hyderabad as building under construction crashes

Hyderabad, July 24 (IANS) Two labourers were killed and eight others injured as a building being built without permission from authorities collapsed in upscale Jubliee Hills here on Sunday. Police booked four persons including engineer for culpable homicide.

Rescue workers have almost completed the clearing of debris by Sunday evening and no more bodies were found. Earlier, some labourers were feared trapped under the rubble.

The deceased have been identified as Anand (24) and Ansar Sheikh (30), both from West Bengal.

The accident occurred in Film Nagar, where the three-storey building was being built as part of the expansion of Film Nagar Cultural Centre, a hub of Telugu film celebrities. Cement-concrete slabs for two floors were laid.

Eight injured persons rescued by locals soon after the collapse around 12.30 p.m were shifted to the nearby Apollo Hospital.

Police, fire services, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out the rescue operation.

A GHMC official said no permission was given for constructing the building as the land's ownership was disputed and the case was pending in the court.

Greater Hyderabad Mayor B.Rammohan announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He said the poor quality of the construction and negligence led to the tragedy.

On a complaint by a GHMC official, police booked president and generation of Film Nagar Cultural Club, engineer and contractor for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.