The Cyberabad Police on 24 August arrested Syed Sajid, the owner of an under-construction building that collapsed in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, killing two migrant workers, as he allegedly attempted to flee the country at Hyderabad International Airport. The seven-storey structure on Anjaiah Nagar came down on Saturday, and authorities are now hunting for the contractor, identified as Khawja Moinuddin, who remains at large.

What Triggered the Collapse

According to investigators, Sajid allegedly raised the seven-storey building on a 50-square-yard plot without obtaining permission from the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC). The accused reportedly owned only 38 square yards of land and allegedly encroached upon 10 square yards of an adjoining drain to accommodate the structure — a clear violation of municipal norms, according to officials.

A case was registered against both Sajid and Khawja Moinuddin at Raidurgam Police Station following a complaint by the owner of an adjacent building that sustained damage in the incident.

The Human Cost

The collapse on Saturday claimed the lives of Umesh Khare and Mopath, both tile workers from Madhya Pradesh who were engaged in construction work at the site. Three others were injured. The victims were migrant labourers — a demographic that routinely bears the heaviest toll in illegal construction incidents across Indian cities.

Demolition and Evacuation

In the aftermath, the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and CMC jointly demolished an adjacent apartment complex that suffered structural damage when the under-construction building fell. The demolition was carried out with extreme care, as the two structures shared no gap between them.

Around 20 families were evacuated from another adjoining building, which will undergo a structural stability assessment before residents are permitted to return. CMC officials confirmed the demolished adjacent building had also been constructed without valid permits and posed a risk to public safety.

Administrative Action

CMC Commissioner G. Srijana on Sunday suspended a town planning officer for failing to act against the illegal construction. She directed the town planning department to immediately identify all unauthorised constructions in the jurisdiction and initiate action. Officials were further instructed to demolish any structure built without permission or in violation of safety rules that endangers public safety.

Investigation Status

Police confirmed that further investigation into the case is underway. The search for contractor Khawja Moinuddin continues. This incident is part of a broader pattern of illegal high-rise construction in Hyderabad's fast-expanding tech corridors, where demand pressure and lax enforcement have repeatedly enabled builders to bypass safety norms — often with fatal consequences.