Panic after roof caves in at Old Collectorate in Adilabad

The roof of Adilabad’s Old Collectorate collapsed minutes before a minister’s meeting, sparking panic among employees. While no injuries were reported, officials ordered a safety review. Meanwhile, delays plague the new Rs.55-crore Integrated District Offices Complex project

Adilabad: The safety of employees working in various departments at the Old Collectorate has come under question after the roof of a wing of the building caved in recently.

Constructed in 1945 during the Nizam’s era, the building has long been in a dilapidated condition and was further weakened by recent downpours. The roof of the veranda of the Treasury Department collapsed due to heavy rains just minutes before Minister Jupally Krishna Rao’s review meeting on Thursday evening, triggering panic among employees.

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Two policemen on duty at the Treasury Department had a narrow escape, while important files were destroyed. Some employees managed to flee after sensing danger, and many expressed relief that no injuries were reported. Officials of other departments, however, were shocked by the incident.

Senior Assistant Prasad recalled that he ran out through another entrance after hearing the sound of the roof collapse. A policeman recounted that he rushed outside and saved his life.

The entrance of the Collectorate and some first-floor departments were temporarily closed. Employees of certain departments were permitted to access their offices from the rear. Collector Rajarshi Shah constituted a committee of experts to assess the safety of the building and declared a holiday for employees on Friday.

Officials admitted lapses in maintaining the building and said safety measures were being taken. They added that offices would be shifted to Zilla Parishad, Municipality and other departmental buildings if found unsafe. A final decision will be taken based on the expert committee’s report, expected within a week.

Meanwhile, construction of the Integrated District Offices Complex (IDOC), coming up on 19 acres on the outskirts of the town, has been delayed for more than two years. Sanctioned in 2023 at an estimated cost of Rs.55 crore with a one-year deadline, only two of the six blocks have been completed so far.

Officials said the executing agency has been instructed to expedite the work, but progress remains slow due to delays in sanctioning bills since the Congress government came to power.