The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has given a green signal for residents to move back into the Shiv Residency apartment complex in Bhimrad. This decision comes just days after a compound wall and parking area collapse triggered panic and forced an evacuation. A committee formed by the civic body to assess the structural stability of the buildings has declared the structures safe for occupation.
Official Declaration and Safety Assurance
Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal announced the committee's findings on Friday. "The committee found the structures safe and residents can return to their homes," she stated. In a move to build further confidence, the SMC has offered to bear the cost of an independent, third-party structural audit if the residents desire one. Agarwal also confirmed that an inquiry will be conducted to determine the root cause of the incident.
Detailing the remedial work, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Manish Doctor explained that the urgent strengthening of the foundation pit's vulnerable side was completed. "Over 1,500 trucks of soil were used to secure the site, lime treatment was done and it was covered with cement concrete," Doctor said. He added that the geotechnical report from the committee confirmed the safety of the adjacent buildings and recommended they could be occupied.
Resident Concerns and Evacuation Details
The crisis erupted on Tuesday night when the boundary wall and a section of the parking lot of Shiv Residency gave way, crumbling into the massive 50-foot deep foundation pit of the neighboring Raj Lakshmi Vivaan construction project. The sudden collapse caused widespread fear, leading hundreds of residents to spend a cold night outdoors.
As a precaution, the SMC evacuated the four towers (A, E, F, and G) closest to the collapse site, which together contain 192 flats. However, residents have expressed ongoing anxiety due to the building's layout. They point out that Tower A is structurally attached to Tower B, and Tower G is attached to Tower H. "If anything happens to the A and G towers, it would cause severe damage to the B and H towers as well. SMC did not evacuate those towers," a concerned resident highlighted. This interconnection led many residents from the other four towers to voluntarily leave their homes despite not being officially evacuated.
Path Forward and Ongoing Monitoring
The situation in Bhimrad remains under close watch as large construction projects continue on two sides of the Shiv Residency complex. While the immediate structural threat has been addressed and the all-clear given, the offer for a third-party inspection places the next decision in the hands of the residents. The community is currently holding meetings to discuss their options and decide on their course of action based on the official reports and the SMC's offer.
The upcoming internal inquiry by the SMC is expected to scrutinize the events leading to the wall's failure and assign responsibility. For now, the focus is on restoring normalcy for the nearly 200 families directly affected by the evacuation, while ensuring all residents feel secure in their homes.
