Five escape unhurt as 120-year-old building collapses

ALAPPUZHA: Five persons, including two women, had a miraculous escape when a double-storied building, estimated to be over 120 years old and which was in the possession of a court-appointed receiver for the last 41 years, collapsed here on Tuesday.

The building, near the Municipal Council office, collapsed around 1.30 p.m. Three persons escaped while two women, Renuka, 40, and Sunitha Rani, 29, who were trapped inside the debris were rescued by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel. The women were employees of a tile and brick dealership located on the ground floor of the building. The others were present at a building designers office and at the AITUC Union office, situated on the first floor of the building.

. The 35-cent plot and building are currently in the possession of receiver P.S. Sreeja. While Ms. Sreeja told reporters that the tenants had been served a notice two months ago to vacate the premises, the tenants said they had warned the receiver that the building, without maintenance and repair works for the past several years, could come down any moment