At least five died and one seriously injured on Tuesday as the wall fell on them during a demolition drive by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in Nikol locality in the city.
The demolition drive was apparently being carried out to remove unauthorized encroachment by over 350 buildings in the area. All five victims were local shop owners. One injured critically and admitted to a local hospital.
As soon as the civic officials arrived at the scene and began their demolition drive, a mob prevented them from carrying out demolition and blocked earth moving machines. However, the protesting crowd was soon dispersed with the help of police. The officials continued with their demolition drive despite locals objection and during chaos a wall collapsed on six persons, killing five of them.
The situation became tense and the relatives and locals refused to take over the dead bodies for final rites. None of the senior Corporation officials or political class visited the area to pacify the locals. It was only after intervention of Ahmedabad Police Commissioner that the situation could be brought under control.
While the municipal authorities claimed that the civic body had followed all the legal procedures and had begun demolition only after getting a court order, the local maintained that they had been issued a notice three years ago and not before this drive.
Though the local authorities suspended the demolition drive after the unfortunate incident, the locals have given a Bandh call in the area against what they called ‘high-handedness’ of local body.