In a tragic incidence ‘Ambur Dum Biriyani Hotel’ 72-year-old building suddenly collapsed and few people were injured in an incident that took place in Gonikoppa town of Kodagu district recently.
Six people who were trapped under the debris were rescued successfully by joint operation by fire and emergency services personnel, police and NDRF team. Six people escaped with minor injuries and one with severe injuries was shifted to a Mysore hospital.
It is reported that hotel owner N Tirumurugan (60), his wife Alamelamma (46), their son Narayana (24) and worker Mahalinga (25) and a customer Madhu (35) sustained injuries. A meat shop owned by Samir was also housed in the building and fortunately, those in the shop escaped unharmed.
Fire brigade and emergency services personnel from Gonikoppa reached spot within a minutes after collapse of the building. As the exact number of people trapped inside, was not known an extensive search operation was carried out with a special vehicle and modern equipment. Fire and emergency services personnel from Mysuru, Periyapatna, Madikeri were rushed to the spot and conducted a joint operation and later NDRFteam was also joined the rescue operation.
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Venkat Raja, District Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Ramarajan, officers of Gonikoppa Police Station, village representatives and local officers visited the spot and monitored the rescue operations.
Speaking on the occasion Gonikoppa Gram Panchayat (GP) president Pramod Ganapathy informed that the building was constructed in 1952, while the hotel ‘Ambur Dum Biriyani was operating for the past three years. He also said that there were many such old buildings in the town and an inspection will be conducted soon, regarding the safety of the buildings.
Pramod Ganapathy thanked the local people, District administration and fire personnel, NDRF who jointly helped in the rescue operation.
