Bengaluru: Mantri Mall staff evacuated over 2,000 visitors in one hour

Bengaluru: Mantri Square mall employees were the real heroes for carrying out timely evacuation when a part of the parapet wall collapsed on January 16 afternoon.

While the impacted area was 50 square metres, less than 0.01% of the total constructed area, the entire mall was evacuated in less than an hour. Nearly 2,000 people were present when the accident happened.

The mall’s emergency response team, the management team, the security team, the engineering team and the housekeeping team acted as soon as an emergency was sounded.

Close to 300 members from Mantri and affiliated staff were involved. Many members of the internal experts such as structural engineers, technical team, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, design teams rushed to the spot to assess the situation.

The external balcony, acting as a passage for services, fell, which created an impact on the compound wall at the mall. This was attributed to possible water logging at the terrace level. The main chiller supply pipes cracked resulting is water leakage into the mall leading to water logging in certain areas. The management decided that pending further investigation; the mall should be immediately evacuated. As a standard operating procedure, the evacuation process involved several internal and external stakeholders.

Patrons were requested to exit the mall in an orderly manner. This avoided confusion, chaos or stampede. Shop staff were asked to leave the premises and their belongings behind in the interest of time and safety.

Mantri management team called police and fire authorities who are still working with the staff. The cops cordoned off the areas, prevented unauthorised access, assessed the situation and ensured that law and order was maintained.

Tenants were informed that the mall would cease operations temporarily. Later communications were sent out to have all food and perishables items may be removed. Any tenants thereafter who have requested access to their shop will be permitted to do so in an escorted manner.

Aditya Sikri, CEO, Retail and Commercial, Mantri Developers said, “We also want to thank the Mantri team. In a moment of crisis, we were able to move swiftly in the larger interest. Irrespective of designations there were two vice-presidents managing the evacuation on ground, head of the mall management and support staff ensuring safety and re-entry of the tenants. Head of leasing and marketing, senior GMs from projects and engineering team who arrived within 30 minutes to inspect and assist in taking control of the situation.” Mantri is complying with requests from various authorities to ensure that the Mantri Square mall is operational as soon as possible, he added.

Expert panel demands special structures to carry out probe
An expert committee, constituted by the BBMP to inquire into the accident at Mantri Square Mall on Jan 16, demanded special structures to carry out their inquiry on Wednesday. The committee visited the mall but had trouble collecting samples.

A committee said on condition of anonymity, “When we headed to collect samples from site, we could not stand there. We had to return without collecting anything. We will revisit the site once special structures are erected, so that we can collect samples and look at the reasons for the collapse of the lintel on the rear part of the mall.”

BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad heads the committee and the final report is likely to be ready within 15 days. 

No caveat yet
Rumours did the rounds that the BBMP has filed a caveat before the Karnataka HCin revoking 'Occupancy Certificate' of Mantri Mall, Mayor Padmavathi 
denied it.