Building collapses in Bengaluru, one killed, 14 rescued

ONE worker was killed after an under-construction building collapsed in Bengaluru on Tuesday amid heavy rains, officials said.

Two rescue vans from the fire and emergency department have been pressed into rescue operations at a a seven-storey building in Babusapalya.

The incident occurred at a time when the city is witnessing heavy downpour, they said.

"Approximately 20 people were trapped. One body has been recovered, 14 workers have been rescued and five are still missing," D Devaraja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Bengaluru) told media.

According to preliminary inquiry, the entire building collapsed following which people got trapped underneath, a fire department official said.

Rain fury

The country's IT capital has been reeling under incessant rains for the past three days, bringing several residential areas and roads under knee-deep water.

Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were deployed to evacuate marooned people with the help of coracles on Tuesday.

North Bengaluru bore the brunt of the rains as several areas were flooded in and around Yelahanka.

According to the city corporation Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Yelahanka received 157 mm rain in just six hours from Tuesday midnight to Tuesday 6 am.

Kendriya Vihar in Yelahanka resembled a river with waist-deep water. The rescue workers rescued people using a coracle.

Due to the waterlogging, normal life was thrown out of gear in Northern Bengaluru.

People preferred to stay indoors, while many passengers missed their flights, trains and buses. Children were not able to go to schools in areas that were flooded.

Many houses in low-lying areas and near lakes were inundated. Household items, vehicles and electronic goods were damaged.

There was severe traffic jam on many important roads. Ballari Road that leads to the Kempegowda International Airport, witnessed gridlocks for several kilometres.

The Tumakuru Road, Old Madras Road and Kanakapura Road too saw severe traffic congestion.

The India Meteorology Department has forecast light to moderate thundershowers at Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Kolar, Bengaluru Urban, and Bengaluru Rural districts. (PTI)