RP-City College Corridor Collapse Raises Safety Concerns
The collapse occurred when students were not present at the affected spot
Hyderabad: A slab from the roof of a corridor at the historic Government City College collapsed on Monday morning, bringing attention to the condition of the 105-year-old heritage building. No casualties were reported in the college that has close to 6,000 students studying on the campus.
The collapse occurred when students were not present at the affected spot, according to Charminar MLA Mir Zulfiqar Ali, who inspected the college after being alerted about the incident. He visited the affected corridors near the electonics departments and the library.
Ali said continuous rains and inadequate maintenance had severely affected the roof, with exposed reinforcement rods visible at several locations. He called for immediate repairs, replacement of damaged slabs and other safety measures, and urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the state government to release emergency funds for the work.
“It was fortunate that students were not present at the spot when the portion collapsed,” Ali told the media. He urged the government to act immediately to protect students and staff. He added that the recent rains have left the walls and roofs of the chemistry, botany and zoology labs completely wet and in danger of giving in any minute.
The incident revives concerns that surrounded the building’s upkeep for years. A 2021 report on the college noted water leakage from the rooftop and pipelines, exposed iron beams and the need for urgent repairs and restoration. At the time, the college administration had said repair and renovation works were being taken up to address seepage and exposed beams.
The present structure was completed in 1921 after the Hyderabad City Improvement Board commissioned British architect Vincent Esch to design it. The institution traces its origins to Madrasa Dar-ul-Uloom, established in 1865, and was upgraded to a college in 1929. The historic building is located near the Musi and is recognised as one of Hyderabad’s heritage structures. The college is autonomous and affiliated with Osmania University.