A portion of a century-old abandoned building collapsed on a busy road in West Bengal’s Burdwan town on Wednesday, leaving two pedestrians injured.
The incident has triggered off panic in the district town with the Fire services and Burdwan Police Station officials rushing to the spot.
Officials barricaded a portion of the Telmarui Road that leads to Sarbamangala temple after the incident. Police have set up surveillance on the remaining structure after the incident.
The dilapidated holding’s owner Sisir Samanta, a retired teacher, currently resides at Kolkata.
Speaking to The Statesman, Burdwan Municipality Chairman Paresh Chandra Sarkar said, “Three years ago we had served a notice to the house owner to take preventive measures in apprehension of further cave in and safety, security of the passersby in the area.”
The house owner however didn’t respond to the civic body’s notice.
“We have now mailed a demolition order to the owner’s address. Our engineers already deployed there have estimated the extent of damage with vulnerability to further collapse,” Sarkar said.
The local residents meanwhile complained that rest of the building structure has become dangerous and posing a threat to life especially after yesterday’s heavy rains.
BJP Bardhaman organizational district president Abhijit Ta visited the site and alleged the municipality and engineering department ignored such dilapidated buildings for years. He accused the officials and TMC leaders of “playing with public safety”.