Bengaluru: After 18 days, Queen's Corner residents return to ‘safer’ homes

Bengaluru: While some smiled ear to ear, many heaved a sigh of relief that they had returned to their world, their homes. After 18 long days, the residents of Queens Corner on Cunningham Road shifted back to their apartments on Thursday.

This time, they have come back to more safer homes, assured that the structure is strong and they have nothing to worry about. “Now, we have come back more alert and we know what we should look out for. We know what are the early signs if there’s any danger. We have been asked to look for diagonal cracks and we are more on the guard now,” says a happy Thangam Venki.

Though reports have suggested that there’s no immediate danger to the building, memories of the fateful June 15, the day 25 families vacated the building, refuses to fade away easily. “When I saw a portion of the land in front of the building caved in, I was terrified. I just didn’t want to come back to the building. I was even discussing with my husband that we should just buy another home. It was a horrifying experience, something we read in papers and never imagined could happen to us,” she recalls.

However, as their trying times come to an end, there are recommendations made by many structural engineers who tested and assured that the foundation was strong. “Pressure grouting has been conducted to further strengthen the building and the engineers have told us we have nothing to worry as long as the foundation is strong. The Legacy builders have been directed to construct a retaining wall and soil test confirmed that the area where the apartment complex is constructed is strong. We have come back hoping for the best, though we are more alert than scared,” she smiles.

For Lal, another resident, the bitter experience of staying in a hotel and living under another roof is a thing of past. “Those days are over. I’m just glad we have come back to our homes and it feels good to be back,” he said. The residents said that essential services like water supply and electricity had resumed.