CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to next of kin of deceased in building collapse

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of each deceased in a building collapse here, and said the government will bear the full medical expenses of those injured. Faced with criticism over his government's handling of the situation in the rain-battered city, he said the worst-hit Yelahanka received 170 mm rainfall on a single day.

It was the first time such a very heavy rain lashed the area in 125 years, but his government is not shedding responsibility citing record rains, and efforts are on to restore normalcy. The building collapse incident, which claimed eight lives, was not due to the impact of rain, but owing to shoddy construction work, the CM said, adding, the building was constructed in a revenue layout unauthorisedly without taking any licence, and officials are being held responsible for it. Siddaramaiah said eight people have been rescued. Three of the six injured are in a serious condition but all of them are out of danger. Speaking to reporters after visiting the building collapse site at Babusapalya near Hennur, he said next of kin of those killed would be given an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each -- Rs two lakh by the Labour Department and Rs three lakh by the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The government is also thinking about giving ex-gratia to those injured, he added.

The Chief Minister also visited the hospital where they are being treated. "The money is not equivalent to the lives lost, but compensation has to be given as the deceased are labourers. All necessary arrangements will be made to send the bodies to their native places," he said. Siddaramaiah appealed to the citizens to construct the houses in accordance with the law and not by violating it. Also, constructions should be stopped once notice is issued by the authorities. "In this case the work was not stopped, which has led to this unfortunate incident." "This (building) collapse is not due to rain, but due to shoddy construction," he said. On notices served by the previous BJP government to those who undertook unauthorised construction, the Chief Minister said: "Some had gone to courts and got stay, some had gone to appellate authority.

I will look into it." Asked about allegations against his government with regard to "maintaining infrastructure" following waterlogging and pothole issues, among others, following rains, he said: "it is easy to make allegations, didn't such incidents take place during their (opposition tenure)." This time, he said, the Yelahanka area in the city received 170 mm rainfall on a single day.

PM announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased in the building collapse here. Taking to 'X', office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO India) posted: "Anguished by the loss of lives due to the collapse of a building in Bengaluru. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon" "An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000: PM @narendramodi," it stated.