Owner of collapsed Hyderabad building held while allegedly trying to flee

The owner of an under-construction building that collapsed in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli, killing two workers, has been arrested at the city’s international airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country, police said.

Cyberabad Police arrested Syed Sajid two days after the seven-storey structure collapsed at Anjaiah Nagar on Saturday. Three other workers were injured in the incident.

Police are searching for the building contractor, identified as Khawja Moinuddin.

Investigators alleged that the building was constructed on a 50-square-yard plot without permission from the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation. The accused reportedly owned only 38 square yards and had allegedly encroached upon 10 square yards of an adjoining drain.

A case was registered against Sajid and Moinuddin at Raidurgam police station following a complaint from the owner of a neighbouring building damaged in the collapse.

The two workers killed in the incident were identified as Umesh Khare and Mopath. Both were migrant tile workers from Madhya Pradesh employed at the construction site.

In a joint operation following the collapse, the civic body and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency demolished a nearby apartment block that had sustained extensive structural damage.

Officials said the seven-storey apartment building posed an immediate risk of collapse. As there was virtually no space between it and the surrounding structures, the demolition was conducted under carefully controlled conditions to prevent damage to neighbouring properties.

Around 20 families were evacuated from another adjoining building. Residents will be allowed to return only after engineers complete an assessment of its structural stability.

Civic officials said the collapsed structure had no valid permits and presented a serious risk to public safety.

Municipal Commissioner G Srijana on Sunday suspended a town planning officer for allegedly failing to take action against the unauthorised construction.

She also directed the town planning department to identify illegal buildings and act against structures constructed without permission or in violation of safety regulations.

Police said further investigation was under way.

With IANS inputs