Two die as school building buckles under weight of new construction

Hyderabad: Hundreds of school children had a narrow escape but at least two construction workers were killed when a school building collapsed in the busy Narayanguda area of Hyderabad yesterday unable to stand the weight of additional floors being added to it.

The building adjoining the Brilliant Grammar High School came crashing down in the afternoon and at least ten labourers were trapped under the debris. The police and fire brigade, besides the municipal corporation's emergency squad, along with the help of the local people rescued two labourers but two others including a woman died. Ambulances rushed the injured to hospital.

Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan, who was among the first to reach the spot, said that apparently additional floors were being constructed on an old existing structure. "It is not clear whether the foundation was capable of withstanding the burden of additional floors and whether the required approvals were obtained," he said.

Minister for municipal administer A Ramanarayana Reddy, who ordered a probe into the tragedy, said that the building was being constructed without due permissions from the authorities.

Pupils safe

The rescue teams were using gas cutters, pressure cutters, JCBs and other equipment to clear the debris to rescue the trapped people. Local people say at least six more persons were trapped inside.

Initial reports about the accident sparked a wave of panic with worried parents rushing towards the school fearing for the worst. Authorities, however, allayed their fears by announcing that all children studying at the institution were safe.

The main building of the Brilliant School building also developed cracks. The school management evacuated the building soon after the incident.

The shudder of the building collapse also brought down the school compound wall .

The state government announced an ex-gratia payment of 200,000 rupees (Dh15,842) to the next of kin of those killed. Minister R Venkat Reddy also announced that the state government would bear the medical expenses of all those injured.

With the incident occurring next to a busy flyover, traffic came to a grinding halt in Narayanguda and adjoining areas.