Cracks in the Foundation: How Ignored Warnings Led to Another Devastating Building Collapse in Telangana

In the heart of Bhadrachalam town, Telangana, a five-storey under-construction building tragically collapsed on March 26, 2025. The structure, built on the foundation of a 30-year-old house, crumbled around 2:30 PM, trapping at least two individuals under the debris. One voice—a woman’s—was reportedly heard, sparking a desperate rescue effort by NDRF, SDRF, and local officials using cranes and earthmovers.

What makes this collapse especially infuriating is how preventable it might have been. The construction, had long raised alarms. Despite public complaints and a formal grievance filed in July 2024 by Human Rights activists, work continued unchecked. Authorities had instructed a halt, but warnings were ignored. The building was allegedly being constructed without proper permissions and in direct violation of agency laws that prohibit multi-storey buildings in the area.

While rescue operations are still underway and the perpetrators remain absconding, this incident is a grim reminder: weak foundations—both structural and bureaucratic—lead to disaster. Civil engineering is not just about design and materials; it’s also about ethical construction and rule of law. When warnings are dismissed, lives hang in the balance.