Bengaluru, 2 May

The GBA on Saturday said Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao has instructed officials to immediately identify and remove compound walls and buildings in a dilapidated condition that pose a risk of collapse within its jurisdiction.

The instructions were issued following directions from Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru City Development Minister DK Shivakumar, in the wake of destruction caused by heavy rains, strong winds, and a hailstorm that lashed the city on Wednesday evening.

The thunderous downpour and stormy winds brought down temperatures in the city but also left a trail of destruction.

A compound wall collapsed at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, killing seven people, including a child.

“The collapse of the wall at Bowring Hospital due to the intensity of the rains, which tragically claimed seven lives, is an extremely unfortunate incident. The rains have caused damage to both public and private property and have disrupted public movement,” the Greater Bengaluru Authority said in a release.

In addition, there remains a continued risk of trees and branches falling in several areas, it added.

Therefore, the deputy CM has directed authorities to immediately identify hazardous trees, weak branches, dangerous walls, and unsafe buildings, and to take preventive measures to avoid any untoward incidents and inconvenience to the public, it said.

Accordingly, commissioners and additional commissioners of all five city corporations have been instructed to personally monitor the situation and form special teams comprising Fire and Emergency Services personnel, police staff, and city corporation officials and employees.

These teams have been directed to implement all necessary precautionary measures in view of the likelihood of further heavy rains, ensuring that the public faces no inconvenience.

Regarding the action being taken to remove unsafe walls, the GBA said that on Binnymill Road under the Central City Corporation, an old wall was found to be in a severely weakened condition and at imminent risk of collapse.

Following the recent rains, a part of the wall had already collapsed. The removal of the remaining portion of the wall is underway.

In the West City Corporation limits, at 8th Main Road, Mysore Lamps premises in Malleswaram, a 240-meter-long compound wall was identified as structurally unsafe. With appropriate safety measures, manpower, and machinery, the demolition of the wall has been completed.