A two-storied lodge building located on the Badadanda (Grand Road) near the Shree Jagannath Temple collapsed late on Saturday night. However, no loss of life or injury was reported as the mishap took place during the night.
The Jagannath lodging had been declared unsafe 15 years back by the district authorities. Neither the owner nor the civic body took care to demolish the structure.
Though the operation of the lodge was closed, a number of shops were operating in its premises. Even though the authorities decide to demolish all unsafe buildings before each Rath Yatra, a little is done in that regard.
Technical experts have so far identified over a dozen such buildings along the Grand Road. Despite direction to seal those buildings, it is observed that devotees sit on the roof of those unsafe buildings to witness the Rath Yatra every year, for which they pay high prices.