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The tragic collapse of a seven-storey building in Bengaluru on Tuesday has left over ten people dead, highlighting the perils of lax construction practices and raising questions about the role of remote supervision. The owner of the building, Muniraja Reddy, a civil engineer, is alleged to have overseen the construction primarily through WhatsApp video calls, directing the head mason in this unusual and potentially risky method. This unconventional approach has prompted concerns among investigators, who are now examining whether this remote management contributed to the building's failure.
Reddy, currently hospitalized due to health issues, will be arrested upon his recovery. His son, Bhuvan Reddy, and the head mason, Murugesha, have already been presented in court and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. According to police sources, Reddy not only supervised construction remotely but also selected building materials through video calls, rarely visiting the construction site in person. He designed the structure himself and initially entrusted the work to Murugesha. After the foundation was laid and four floors were completed, the project was reassigned to another mason, Elumalai.
The authorities are actively pursuing accountability for the tragedy. The investigation is focused on determining whether the remote supervision method employed by Reddy, coupled with his limited on-site presence, compromised the safety of the building. The investigation is also examining whether the materials used in the construction were substandard and whether there were any violations of building codes. Furthermore, the police are compiling a list of BBMP officials, including the assistant executive engineer and executive engineer of the zone, who will be summoned for questioning to determine if any negligence on their part contributed to the collapse.
Source: Bengaluru building collapse: Owner supervised construction via WhatsApp video calls