INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
HYDERABAD: Panic struck Quthbullapur's Chintal village on Saturday evening when a three-storied building being lifted with hydraulic jacks
tilted and leaned on a neighbouring residential apartment
The G+2 structure had 16 people inside when it was being raised above road level - none of them aware of the owner's plan
Luckily, no one was hurt.A Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) disaster relief force was rushed to the spot to evacuate the
building and its owner was later booked under IPC section 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) following a complaint by
the owner of the neighbouring building.Owner booked for 'lifting' old building Civic officials said the incident took place around 4.30pm."A
case has been filed as the owner failed to take prior permission
No one was injured and repair on the other building is underway," said M Pavan, station house officer, Jeedimetla police station.On Sunday,
the structure was demolished using cranes while the neighbouring building was also evacuated.According to cops, the owner decided to lift
the 32-year-old building to avoid flooding during rain after a fresh CC road laid in front of it by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation created a 10-inch gap between the road and the ground floor
"They deputed a company, JJ Builder, to use hydraulic jacks to push the building by a few inches and relay the foundation
But while lifting, the structure tilted backwards onto another residential building," said K Sathish Rao, station fire officer, enforcement,
vigilance and disaster management (EVDM).Sathish Rao added they were shocked to find people still inside when the team reached Chintal
around 4.40 pm."We deployed six personnel to guide all those inside to come outside using stairs
Public service announcements were made to caution people," said Sathish Rao, adding that the building was in poor condition.Officials said
the owner had not sought permission for the work."While it is mandatory to take permission from the town planning department regarding such
renovation, no such nod was sought,"said K Sambaiah, deputy city planner, Quthbullapur."Hence, we have lodged a complaint against the owner
as the four families living on rent were not informed, endangering their lives," he added.A GHMC official added: "Though most of the people
were asked to vacate on Saturday, they were given time to take out important documents etc from their homes on Sunday before demolition."He
said that the neighbouring building too has developed cracks thus endangering the lives of its occupants.
