Balcony of luxury society flat collapses in Gurugram; residents demand 'structural audit'

Gurugram, Jul 9 (PTI) A section of a balcony fell in a luxury apartment complex in Gurugram's Sector 37D on a rain-soaked Thursday morning, police said. There were no immediate reports of any injuries. The incident occurred in Tower E of the Imperia Esfera Phase-2 complex. A loud noise was heard by the residents when a part of the first-floor balcony fell down, they said. A resident said that no one was struck by the debris even though people were crossing the space beneath the balcony around the time of the collapse, adding that he was not aware of any injuries caused by the incident. Upon receiving information, police and local administration teams arrived at the scene. Officials said the entire area has been cordoned off. An investigation has been initiated, and an inspection has been conducted, they added. The incident has sparked fear and outrage among residents who alleged that the incident was a consequence of the builder's persistent negligence. Just last month, residents had staged a protest within the society complex against the dilapidated state of basic amenities, they said. They appealed to the administration to order a "structural audit" of the entire project by an independent and reputable third-party agency. They added that no tower can be considered completely safe until the structural integrity of the entire project has been verified. "This is a deeply alarming incident. Although the flat was unoccupied, the falling debris could have injured other residents. The collapse of the slab has also damaged a pillar, compromising the safety of the entire tower. We will lodge a complaint with police and demand an investigation by the DTP department," Hemant Kumar, RWA president of the society, said. PTI COR PRK