Seven Killed in house collapse in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 16: Seven people were killed and equal number injured when a old two-storey house collapsed at Ejipura locality in the city today. Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy who rushed to the spot ruled out the collapse due to a LPG cylinder blast as was feared earlier stating that there was no evidence like smoke of fire noticed at the spot and suspected the incident could have been caused due to incessant rains. However a thorough examination by experts would bring out the real cause. It was a old house and had taken a beating due to heavy rainfall during the last two months, he said. Bengaluru Development Minister K J George also rushed to the spot and announced a compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those who were injured. Mayor, Police commissioner Sunil Kumar and other top officials also visited the spot. The two floored structure which had six small houses in it came down in a heap at 0650 hrs this morning. There were five families living in it while the seventh dwelling was vacant. Fire brigade and NDRF personnel rushed to the spot and saved seven persons from the rubble and one of them, identified as Sanjana (3) miraculously survived under rubble for nearly five hours and she was the last one to be rescued. The deceased were identified as Ashwini (22) a pregnant woman, Kalavathi (25), Saravan (31), Ravichandar (46), Prasad (18) and Pavan Kalyan (19). While one person was seriously injured and fighting for life, the other six injured, who were admitted to a nearby hospital, were out of danger, doctors said. Even as nearly 100 rescue workers took up the relief work, three fire fighters-- Suresh, Subhan and Soma were injured when a wall collapsed on them and were also hospitalised. UNI