Building evacuated as balcony collapsed in Ctg

This balcony on the first floor of a three-storey building in Chittagong city's Goanchi Bagan collapsed yesterday, prompting Chittagong District Administration to evacuate Class IV staff of Chittagong Medical College Hospital who used to reside there. The building has been sealed off. Four other adjoining dangerous buildings still house many families. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Chittagong district administration evacuated a three-storey building and sealed it off after its first-floor balcony collapsed in Chittagong city yesterday. Class IV staff of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) used reside there.
Md Sahidul Alam, additional district magistrate of Chittagong, said they sealed the building No 25 off in Chittagong city's Goanchi Bagan (Guava Garden) area around 11:00am.
The balcony fell down when some masons were working to put pillars under it, he said adding that the building's six families have been asked to leave their residence.
Sumon Meah, a resident in the building's ground floor, said, “Four of my family members were trapped inside the house as the collapsed balcony blocked the door. Fortunately none was near the door during the incident.”
Moreover, nearly a month ago a chunk of plaster collapsed on the head of my niece, he said.
Fifty four families of the class IV staff of CMCH have been residing in the five buildings – buildings No 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 -- which were built in 1966.
Family members living in the buildings said although they informed the authorities concerned about the shabby conditions, no step has been taken in this regard.
Md Abu Taher, sub divisional engineer of Publics Works Department (PWD), said they have started repairing work recently following requests by the building's residences.
“We have sent report about the five risky buildings to the higher authority twice in 2012 and last month of this year.  But no action have been taken,” he said.
Selim Mohammed Jahangir, principal of CMCH, said they will decide to relocate the families soon.