A building at the Bhailalbhai & Bhikhabhai Institute of Technology (BBIT) in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand district, collapsed late on Thursday night, causing panic but no casualties as the premises were vacant at the time.
Incident Details
The collapse raises serious concerns, as more than 500 students had written exams in the same building earlier on Thursday. Eyewitnesses reported that the structure came down with a loud crash, drawing large crowds within minutes.
Teams from the police, fire department, and local administration rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
Structural Concerns
Sources indicated that the building was old and renovation work was underway. The second and third floors had been added only a year ago, raising questions about structural stability and the quality of construction and repairs. Officials are expected to check whether structural safety audits were carried out before the building was used.
Student Reactions
Civil engineering and other departmental exams are currently underway at the college. Students noted that hundreds of examinees used the building in the morning, afternoon, and evening sessions on Thursday.
“I wrote my exam here today, and other papers were also scheduled. It was fortunate this happened at night. Had the building collapsed during the day, many students could have been injured,” said Uday Patel, a civil engineering student.
Official Response
Paresh Mistry, estate officer of the Karamsad-Anand Municipal Corporation, stated: “We instructed the authorities concerned to submit the structural stability reports, and until then, the building will not be used.”
