A potentially tragic incident was averted on Saturday morning when an old and crumbling house collapsed in a densely populated area of Vadodara. The structure, located in the Dudhwala Mohalla near the Nyay Mandir, gave way with a loud crash, startling local residents but fortunately causing no injuries as it was unoccupied at the time.
Residents Hear Loud Crash, Rush to Scene
According to local sources, the sudden collapse occurred in the heart of the Nyay Mandir locality. Residents reported hearing a tremendous noise and rushed out of their homes to investigate. They were met with the sight of a pile of rubble where the house once stood. The house had been in a visibly unsafe and dilapidated condition for a considerable time, raising concerns among the neighborhood.
Property Dispute Prevented Action
Officials familiar with the matter revealed a critical detail behind the dangerous state of the building. The hazardous structure had neither been repaired nor demolished due to an ongoing property dispute. This legal stalemate left the building to deteriorate further, ultimately leading to its collapse. While no people were present inside or near the house during the incident, a few two-wheelers and bicycles parked in the vicinity were damaged under the falling debris.
Emergency Services Swiftly Secure Area
Personnel from the Vadodara Fire Brigade and engineers from the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL) were promptly dispatched to the location. Their first action was to snap the electricity connection to the collapsed house as a crucial precautionary measure to prevent any fire or electrocution hazards. Following this, they initiated the work of clearing the debris from the road to restore normalcy and ensure public safety in the area.
This incident in Vadodara has once again highlighted the significant risks posed by neglected and disputed old buildings in urban residential areas. It underscores the urgent need for municipal mechanisms to address such dangerous structures before they fail, potentially with grave consequences.
