Bokaro: A portion of a dilapidated residential block in Sector 12E of Bokaro township collapsed on Friday, triggering panic and renewing concerns over the safety of ageing quarters. No casualties were reported.Residents said occupants of the upper floor were away in their native village when the structure gave way. An elderly person living on the ground floor was rescued by fire brigade and home guard personnel, while other residents rushed out to safety.They alleged that the block’s water tank had collapsed on Aug 14 and that complaints were subsequently lodged with Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) authorities.Ranjit Chandra, who lives in an adjoining block, said residents heard a loud crash before seeing one side of the building collapse. “The impact and vibrations also affected the adjoining portion, which subsequently came down,” he said.Residents demanded that senior BSL officials visit the site and assess the danger. Tension flared after an argument with a BSL team, during which employee Manish Deepkanj was allegedly assaulted and suffered a bleeding nose. Police took him for treatment. BSL sources said a complaint was being prepared.BSL chief of communications Manikant Dhan confirmed there were no casualties. He said three quarters in the affected block were vacant and three were occupied by licensees. One occupant was away, while the others were safe.Dhan said the block had been declared unsafe after a staircase collapsed in July and occupants were offered alternative quarters. BSL said NBCC and NIT Patna were auditing residential blocks, of which 169 had been declared unsafe.
