80 evacuated after bldg balcony crashes

Surat: One person was injured when a first-floor balcony of a low-rise apartment collapsed in Udhna on Saturday. The injured was sitting in the balcony when it collapsed, said officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The SMC team and police evacuated 80 residents from 31 houses in the Lakshmi Apartment as the building structure was in dilapidated condition.
SMC officials said that the balcony of the three-storied building collapsed when some repair work was going on. “Some labourers were using heavy machines inside the apartment during repair work. Due to the vibration from the heavy machine, the gallery collapsed. The building was built in 1985 and its structure has become weak,” said an SMC officer.
After examining the building, the structural engineer of SMC removed some portion in the front of the building to reduce weight. “Five members of a family did not have alternate accommodation and they are being kept at SMC community hall, while other residents went to stay at their alternate arrangement,” said the officer.
After the dangerous portion was removed, SMC team assisted the residents to remove valuables and essential goods from their flats.
After consultation with the structural engineer, the residents will have to decide if they want to repair the building or demolish it, said SMC official.