Bengaluru, May 26 (IANS) A 17-year-old boy was killed and another man injured after the compound wall of an apartment collapsed in Bengaluru’s Chikkabanasawadi area on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Prudent Homes Apartment located on 5th Cross in Chikkabanasawadi. The deceased has been identified as a 17-year-old native of Raichur district.

Another victim, identified as 32-year-old Doolayya, sustained injuries in the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

According to police, the victims were trapped under the debris after the compound wall suddenly gave way and collapsed.

The jurisdictional police have registered a case against the apartment owner. Further investigation into the incident is underway.

More details are awaited as the police probe is ongoing.

It can be recalled that following heavy rain accompanied by hail and thunderstorms, the compound wall of Bowring Hospital collapsed on April 29, resulting in seven deaths and injuries.

The tragedy in which seven people died when part of the Bowring Hospital compound wall collapsed on them on April 29 could have been prevented had the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) cleared the footpath encroachment there, and the then BBMP repaired the damaged compound wall.

This was stated in a report submitted by an investigation team led by the Superintendent of Police of Karnataka Lokayukta to Lokayukta Justice B.S. Patil. The report was placed before the Lokayukta during a hearing on Thursday in which Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh and other officials participated.

The report stated that the height of the compound wall was 2.8 metres, as against 1.5 to 2.4 metres as per the Indian Building Code. The compound wall had no earth-retaining structure and weep holes to discharge rainwater.

The report noted that the tragedy could have been prevented had the GBA officials taken steps to identify dilapidated buildings, walls, and other dangerous spots in the city. Shalini Rajaneesh informed the Lokayukta that a criminal case had been registered against the contractor and notices had been issued to the engineers.

–IANS

mka /dpb