Bengaluru: At least one person has been confirmed dead in a building collapse near Ecospace in Bellandur on Wednesday afternoon. Though at least ten people were initially trapped when the three-storey building collapsed at around 12.35 p.m., the rescue team that rushed to the spot managed to rescue six of them. A stray dog too was killed in the incident.

P. Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) said at least three more people are still believed to be trapped inside, though they can hear the voice of only one person, who has been provided with oxygen until they can rescue him.

According to eye-witnesses, they started hearing rumbling sounds at around 12.30 p.m. and then saw the building come tumbling down soon after. Parts of the building fell on the security shed of the adjacent apartment complex, killing Ashok Mahanta, the security guard. Parts of the building also fell on the road, where an empty car was parked, damaging it, while some others fell on a vacant plot next to it. .

Building plan violation

Muniveerappa M. Joint Commissioner, Mahadevapura Zone, who visited the site of the incident, said the BBMP had sanctioned a three-storey residential building, but the owners had violated the sanctioned plan and built a seven-storey building. Poor quality construction is suspected to be the reason behind the collapse.

Mayor G. Padmavati also said action will be initiated against BBMP officials. “It seems like local BBMP officials were hand in glove with the owner and they allowed an extra floor to be constructed. We will take action against the officials,” she told reporters.