Mangalore: Collapse of structure at Bikarnakatte - Owner clarifies
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jun 2: In a statement to daijiworld, Santosh D'Costa, owner of Maria Kripa property at Bikarnakatte where mud had collapsed damaging a neighbouring house on May 30, clarified that there was no construction taking place at the site, contrary to reports.
It was reported that the additional under-construction structure at Maria Kripa had collapsed due to rain causing damage to another house situated at a lower level and resulting in the collapse of its compound wall.
Santosh D'Costa, working in Ireland, clarified that no construction has been taking place at the site, and that the incident occured following the chopping of two coconut trees that were creating problems to the public.
"There were two coconut trees creating problems to the public, hence we decided to chop them off. Thereafter, a big hole was left at the spot where the trees had been, which we covered with metal sheets. Due to heavy rain and wind, those metal sheets were blown away and the compound wall collapsed. The problem was sorted out the next morning," he stated, adding that he was constantly in touch with the Bikarnakatte police and Mescom Kulshekar unit.
Earlier report
Mangalore: Under-construction structure collapses, house damaged
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, May 31: A portion of a building that was being expanded by the owner gave way and fell over another house on the night of Thursday May 30. The incident occured at Bajjodi-Bikarnakatte here.
'Maria Kripa', a residential-cum-commercial building owned by Santosh D'Costa who is settled in England, was being expanded by one more room on an empty space of land behind the building.
It is said that the owner had decided to construct the room as there was space left behind the building and had planned to give it on rent. Before the construction began, the neighbours had reportedly warned that it would collapse if built without pillars. However, the construction went on as planned.
Now, a month since the construction began, the mud loosened due to rain and the under-construction room collapsed, along with the metal sheet that was covering it.
Worse, the structure fell on another house located on a lower level, causing considerable damage. The gate as well as the compound wall of the house have reportedly collapsed.
The house, 'Lorra Villa' belongs to Lawrence Saldanha, who said he would lodge a complaint against Santosh D'Costa. Luckily, as the family was inside the house, no one was hurt.
In addition, the collapsing structure also snapped an electricity wire thus affecting power supply in the area. Mescom personnel later arrived at the spot and undertook repair work.