Bengaluru's Shifting Sands: Illegal 5-Storey Building Tilts Dangerously in Koramangala, Sparks City-Wide Alarm

A collective gasp of fear has gripped Bengaluru's upscale Koramangala area as a five-storey building has visibly and alarmingly tilted, prompting an immediate safety scare and reigniting critical debates about the city's rampant illegal construction. Located on 80 Feet Road in the 4th Block, this commercial-cum-residential structure now stands as a stark monument to urban planning failures, leaving residents and authorities on high alert.

The precarious lean of the building is unmistakable, creating a chilling gap between itself and the adjacent property.

For the terrified inhabitants of the area, the sight is a constant reminder of potential catastrophe, especially with the looming monsoon season threatening to exacerbate any structural vulnerabilities. Many have voiced their anxieties, fearing that the building could crumble at any moment, endangering not just its own occupants but also surrounding structures and pedestrians.

Investigations by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have quickly revealed the chilling truth: the building is entirely illegal.

Constructed without a single official approval and in blatant violation of foundational bylaws, it lacks crucial setbacks and dedicates its entire ground floor, initially earmarked for parking, to commercial use. This flagrant disregard for regulations has placed countless lives at risk.

Swiftly responding to the escalating crisis, BBMP officials inspected the site, confirmed the structural instability, and wasted no time in serving a notice to the owner, identified as Srikanta.

The building has since been sealed, and all tenants—primarily paying guest (PG) accommodations and commercial establishments like salons—have been evacuated. While demolition remains a viable, albeit challenging, option in such a densely populated area, the immediate priority is to prevent any collapse.

This isn't an isolated incident for Bengaluru, a city notorious for its unchecked growth and construction violations.

Haunting echoes of past tragedies, such as the Ejipura collapse in 2013 and the Bellandur incident in 2015, resonate loudly, serving as grim reminders of the devastating consequences of negligence. Experts suggest that the building's construction on a relatively small plot, likely without proper soil testing or adherence to structural engineering norms, contributed significantly to its current perilous state.

Despite overwhelming evidence, the owner, Srikanta, has reportedly maintained that all necessary documents are in order and the building is structurally sound.

He attributes the tilt to an adjacent pillar, a claim swiftly dismissed by concerned officials. The building, constructed between 2018 and 2019, now stands as a stark warning, forcing Bengaluru to confront the urgent need for stringent enforcement of construction laws and a renewed commitment to public safety.