In the wake of the unfortunate incident of the collapse of two buildings in Vadodara, the Gujarat Government has announced a comprehensive inquiry and rushed a team of experts on the spot. Rs. 2 lakh relief was announced for the kin of the deceased. Chief Minister Shri Modi is closely monitoring the rescues operations.
The other steps taken by the state Government are:
- Inquiry under Ms. Manjula Subramaniam, a retired IAS officer who has previously served as Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development and Vigilance Commissioner, Government of Gujarat.
- Experts from the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA); Institute of Seismological Research, Gandhinagar (ISR); Gujarat Engineering Research Institute, Vadodara (GERI) and Road & Building Department, Government of Gujarat are collectively doing testing and finding out the reasons behind the unfortunate collapse.
- Material from collapsed building will be tested to decipher the cause of the collapse.
- Experts are deciphering if liquefaction effect had any role in this collapse.
- People have been evacuated from adjoining buildings to further minimize any scope of losses. Non destructive testing for structure stability is going on there.
- Finance Minister & Guardian Minister of Vadodara District Shri Nitinbhai Patel and Energy Minister Saurabhbhai Patel are present in Vadodara.
- The buildings have been built between 1999 and 2001.
- It may be noted that Vadodara has received 120% excess of the average rainfall this year. It is being explored in this and water logging is a cause behind the collapse.
- 500 people from NDRF, local fire services and EME are involved in the rescue operations.
- 9 people have lost their lives and 5 lives have been saved. Rescue operations will be completed very soon.