A five-storey old building collapsed in Jabalpur’s Bada Fuhara area on Tuesday evening, but no one was injured. According to media reports, the building fell at around 7.30 pm, creating a huge cloud of dust.
The building was in a busy area where many people and street vendors are usually present in the evening. Local people said the accident could have caused many deaths and injuries if it had happened on another day or a little earlier.
After the incident, the state Public Works Minister asked district officials to inspect old and unsafe buildings across the city. According to media reports, officials have been told to survey old buildings, especially in crowded areas, and take action against those that are dangerous.
The collapse also led to criticism of the municipal corporation. Opposition leaders said many owners of old buildings had applied for permission to pull down unsafe structures, but the civic body had not taken timely action. They claimed this delay had put public safety at risk.
According to media reports, the building owner said the nearly 40-year-old structure lost support after nearby buildings were demolished. People who saw the incident said a few people were standing near the building shortly before it collapsed. They moved away when it started raining, and the building fell just a few minutes later, avoiding a major tragedy.
