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Rubble in India Is Combed, and Builders Arrested Rubble in India Is Combed, and Builders Arrested
(2 months later)
NEW DELHI — Rescuers digging through the rubble of a 12-story building that collapsed on Saturday in heavy rains in the southern city of Chennai had by Sunday evening recovered the bodies of 11 people and rescued 21 survivors, with possibly many more people still trapped under the rubble, officials said. NEW DELHI — Rescuers digging through the rubble of a 12-story building that collapsed on Saturday in heavy rains in the southern city of Chennai had by Sunday evening recovered the bodies of 11 people and rescued 21 survivors, with possibly many more people still trapped under the rubble, officials said.
In another accident, at least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a decrepit four-story building collapsed in New Delhi. That building was illegally constructed decades ago, officials said, and its collapse was partly attributed to construction work on an adjoining building.In another accident, at least 10 people were killed on Saturday when a decrepit four-story building collapsed in New Delhi. That building was illegally constructed decades ago, officials said, and its collapse was partly attributed to construction work on an adjoining building.
The police in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu State, arrested six people on Sunday, including the partners of the construction company, the architect and the structural engineer, and charged them with criminal negligence in connection with the building collapse there, said P. Subramniam, a Chennai police officer.The police in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu State, arrested six people on Sunday, including the partners of the construction company, the architect and the structural engineer, and charged them with criminal negligence in connection with the building collapse there, said P. Subramniam, a Chennai police officer.
The building had two towers, one of which collapsed after heavy rains, said Dr. T. S. Sridhar, a disaster management commissioner in Tamil Nadu. The trapped workers were lining up to collect their wages when the building went down about 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dr. Sridhar said. The building, which had 42 apartments, was as yet unoccupied, but its construction was largely complete.The building had two towers, one of which collapsed after heavy rains, said Dr. T. S. Sridhar, a disaster management commissioner in Tamil Nadu. The trapped workers were lining up to collect their wages when the building went down about 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dr. Sridhar said. The building, which had 42 apartments, was as yet unoccupied, but its construction was largely complete.
“The building plan of the collapsed tower was approved by authorities, but it seems the builder either deviated from the approved plan or used substandard material,” Dr. Sridhar said. “The exact cause of the building collapse will be known after the inquiry.”“The building plan of the collapsed tower was approved by authorities, but it seems the builder either deviated from the approved plan or used substandard material,” Dr. Sridhar said. “The exact cause of the building collapse will be known after the inquiry.”
About 200 people from various government and private agencies continued to search through the rubble of the Chennai building for survivors on Sunday night, said Mr. Subramniam, the local police officer. As many as 72 workers may have been in the building at the time of the collapse, The Times of India reported, citing the state’s chief minister.About 200 people from various government and private agencies continued to search through the rubble of the Chennai building for survivors on Sunday night, said Mr. Subramniam, the local police officer. As many as 72 workers may have been in the building at the time of the collapse, The Times of India reported, citing the state’s chief minister.
Building collapses are common in India, where construction standards are poor, and municipal authorities rarely condemn buildings even when they appear to have dangerous defects. But even unsafe buildings attract people who want to live in them because the competition for shelter is fierce among millions of city residents.Building collapses are common in India, where construction standards are poor, and municipal authorities rarely condemn buildings even when they appear to have dangerous defects. But even unsafe buildings attract people who want to live in them because the competition for shelter is fierce among millions of city residents.
In January, at least 15 workers were killed when a residential building under construction collapsed in the southern state of Goa, and last September, at least 50 people died when a 33-year-old building collapsed in Mumbai. And in April 2013, at least 72 people were killed when a building collapsed in a suburb of Mumbai, the deadliest accident of its kind in decades in India. Some of the construction workers were living at the site as they worked on the building.In January, at least 15 workers were killed when a residential building under construction collapsed in the southern state of Goa, and last September, at least 50 people died when a 33-year-old building collapsed in Mumbai. And in April 2013, at least 72 people were killed when a building collapsed in a suburb of Mumbai, the deadliest accident of its kind in decades in India. Some of the construction workers were living at the site as they worked on the building.