KOLAR: A three-storey building in Bangarapet, Kolar district, collapsed on Friday morning due to structural instability, but fortunately, no casualties were reported. The quick action of local residents, who evacuated the building’s occupants before the collapse, ensured that no one was injured.
The building, located on Budikote Road and owned by B. Rajkumar, showed signs of tilting early in the morning, alarming nearby residents. According to officials, locals immediately alerted the residents of the building, prompting the evacuation of multiple families from four to five households. Shortly after, the structure completely collapsed.
KGF Superintendent of Police KM Shantharaju said, “We were notified about the building’s condition around 8 am. Our team, along with the Bangarapet municipal council, quickly responded by cordoning off the area, cutting off the power supply, and restricting vehicular traffic. Fire and rescue personnel were deployed to ensure that all surrounding buildings, including neighboring residents, were safely evacuated. The building collapsed around 10:30 am.”
The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Police have begun questioning the building’s owner, B. Rajkumar, regarding possible negligence. The owner informed authorities that the ground floor of the building had been constructed about a decade ago, while the upper floors were added around four years ago. Recent renovations, which reportedly involved weakening a wall on the ground floor, may have contributed to the structural failure, Shantharaju added.
Residents have told the police that the building owner had been aware of the structural issues for nearly two months but failed to address them. The collapse also caused damage to surrounding infrastructure, including the boundary wall of a private school. Additionally, traffic on KEB Road was temporarily suspended for safety reasons.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collapse and whether any negligence played a role in the incident.
