Cave-in developed at a place where an underground tunnel for Metro was being dug, residents fear house collapse
Friday rains wreaked havoc in Ahmedabad. The city, which bore the brunt, received nearly four-inch rainfall. Several pockets in the city were waterlogged and cave-ins have been rampant this season.
A major cave-in that occurred near Silver Flats in Gomtipur, where an underground tunnel is being dug for the Metro project, on Friday night, led to residents of some 20 flats vacate their homes. The tremor and destruction of the upper surface of the earth sent shock waves. The cave-in has been fixed within hours, Metro officials said.
A water tank of the municipal staff quarters sunk and some cracks also opened up several walls of the building on Friday. The residents of the quarters woke up to a shock on Saturday as the land on the campus reportedly moved. The ground floor occupants were the worst affected.
"We spent sleepless nights. There is a fear that our houses might collapse and sink due to the Metro work. We need an alternate place to live in. Where shall we go now?," said Khema Parmar, one of the residents. said.
"They came here two weeks ago and asked us to leave. There building is in a poor state, the land has resettled. They are fixing it, but only in the name of it. This is an additional financial burden on us. Who will help us?." Naniben Parmar, another resident, told DNA.
Ahmedabad civic body officials and MEGA (Metro Express Link for Gandhinagar Ahmedabad) said the residents were issued evacuation notice before the work started. Also, notices were put on the walls informing the condition of the walls.
"This flat belongs to the civic body. People stay there on rent. The Metro authority had given them a notice to evacuate the premises for time being," said Kuldeep Arya, deputy municipal commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
"There are 24 units of AMC of which 12 had evacuated and remained were asked to vacate the place on Friday. We found that people were staying there in spite of alerted and evacuation," added Arya. "I have reviewed the situation. People were already asked to vacate the place. The Metro authority has provided them with loading and boarding facility and Rs 500 daily allowance per day. Some people have not vacated. The building is very old," said Mayor Bijal Patel, who visited the place.
The MEGA authority has already served notices of nearby structures where this tunnel is going to pass. "As per the rule, we have evacuated people where it was needed by providing them alternate arrangement and daily Rs500. We have surveyed all the structures which are coming on our way. The damage is not our work. We are working 8 to 9 meters below the surface, and we have procured all safety measures," said IP Gautam, MD MEGA.
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