In 2 yrs,35 buildings collapsed,but no arrest so far

Incidentally,Kalupur has often witnessed buildings coming crashing down. While five people died in Friday’s collapse at Saudagar ni Pol,no deaths were reported in other incidents in Dariapur,Shahpur,Vinzhol,and Gomtipur areas.

Also,most of the collapses take place in pol areas. Last year,a house collapsed at Dabelia ni Pol in Kalupur,killing one and injuring another. Banderi ni Pol and Mama ni Pol also reported house collapse incidents,in which four people were injured. In both the cases,police were informed but allegedly no action was taken.

On their part,police officials say that probe into such cases depend on the nature of complaint registered. In some cases,victims give applications in the police station concerned and if there is any death due to the collapse,a complaint of accidental death is lodged.

“We do not receive complaints in such cases. In cases where death is reported,the deceased’s family along with AMC officials give us an application. But in cases where only property damages are reported,people sometimes do not file any complaint,” said Inspector R C Chaudhari.

He added: “In the case of Dabelia ni Pol,the (affected) family had complaint,but the AMC did not lodge any complaint with us. In this case,the notice of a dangerous building was given by the AMC but the families complained the builders did not give them an alternative housing.”

The police added that there are certain complications in the investigation into these cases as they have to ascertain whether the AMC had given notice of ‘a dilapidated structure’ or ‘illegal structure’ to these houses or not.

In the Dabelia ni Pol collapse case,the Kalupur police did not even find out the accused. They said the victims had lodged a case of loss of property. Moreover,they had no idea whether the building was “illegal or dangerous”.

Another fatal collapse was reported in Dudheshwar area near Mahakali Mandir Chowk,in which four people were killed.

“In this case,the house had collapsed because the tomb of the temple crashed and fell on the house. The tomb collapsed reportedly due to lightening. The case did not require any investigation because it was a case of accidental death,” said Inspector N R Vaghela.

The residents had,however,complained to the AMC about the dilapidated condition of the temple. Eight unauthorised houses demolished

Ahmedabad: The estate department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) razed down eight houses and sealed three others in the walled city areas on Sunday as its drive against illegal constructions continued in the wake of Friday’s building collapse in Kalupur.

The buildings pulled down were located in Sui Gara ni Pol,Mol ni Pol,Mirdhawad,Kadia Kui and Shahpur.

The houses that were sealed were located in Khadia near Bala Hanuman temple,Jekorbai Market in Railwaypura and one in Hajira ni Pol in Raipr,said an AMC release.