Gachibowli building collapse that killed two was served notice 66 days earlier over unauthorised construction

A seven-storey under-construction building in Gachibowli's Anjaiah Nagar, Hyderabad, collapsed on Saturday, August 22, 2026, killing two workers and damaging an adjacent structure. Firefighters and Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams retrieved the victims' bodies from the rubble. The incident occurred at H.No. 1-60/113/135/1, Anjaiah Nagar, Gachibowli Village, Serlingampally mandal, Ranga Reddy district. The building, which included a ground floor, six upper floors, and a penthouse, had already been flagged for unauthorized construction. Sixty-six days prior, on June 17, 2026, the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) Town Planning Section issued a show-cause notice and speaking orders regarding the site. The notice was directed at the property owners, Farheen Siddiq and Md. Sajid, who had constructed the building without obtaining the necessary permissions and without adhering to prescribed setback requirements. The report highlighted the use of substandard construction materials and the lack of proper technical oversight as contributing factors to the structural failure. Following the collapse, CMC Commissioner G. Srijana suspended U. Santosh Kumar, the Town Planning Building Officer (TPBO) for Circle-50, Madhapur, citing his failure to prevent the unauthorized construction. The suspension order, issued on August 22, 2026, noted that the officer's negligence led to the loss of life and posed a threat to public safety. Disciplinary proceedings are underway against Mr. Kumar. The Town Planning Section has also sought the involvement of the Raidurgam police to register criminal cases against the building owners and other implicated parties under relevant legal provisions. The department has requested the police to provide updates on their actions and to inform the CMC accordingly. In response to the tragedy, the CMC Commissioner has instructed the Town Planning Wing to conduct a thorough inspection of all unauthorized constructions within the municipal corporation's jurisdiction. Enforcement measures, including the demolition of illegal structures where necessary, will be implemented in compliance with existing regulations. Officials have been tasked with ensuring rigorous adherence to building codes and prioritizing public safety. The CMC has reaffirmed its commitment to taking decisive action against unauthorized developments and lapses in regulatory enforcement. This includes ongoing efforts to monitor and enforce building standards more effectively. The incident underscores the critical need for stricter compliance with urban planning laws and enhanced oversight to prevent similar tragedies in the future.