Former Karnataka CM's pool site claims life of teen

A teenager was killed and three others were injured when earth caved in on them at an under-construction basement swimming pool in former chief minister N Dharam Singh’s property in Sadashivnagar on Friday.

The deceased was a Class 10 student, Sharanabasappa, aged 16. A native of Shimoga, the teenager had come to the city a few days ago to be with his labourer parents, employed with Guruprasad Constructions, which  was involved in the construction of a three-storey building with the pool in its basement.

Police said Sharanabasappa had joined work temporarily.  He was with other workers, digging for the pool, when the earth caved in and buried four of them around 4.30pm.

The Sadashivnagar police called in the fire and rescue service personnel, who rescued Swamy, Lingappa and Ambareesh and shifted them to MS Ramaiah Hospital. But they could not save the teenager’s life.

Dr Rajiv Shetty, medical director at Ramaiah, said Swamy had fractured his limb, while the two others suffered minor injuries.
Police arrested the site supervisors of Guruprasad Constructions, and were investigating if the construction firm had adhered to safety norms.  

Local corporator Shivaprasad MS said the BBMP would verify if the building was constructed in violation of the approved plan.