A 19th century building housing the Municipal office and was under renovation since the last few months collapsed this afternoon under the impact of the incessant rains.
The workers engaged in the renovation work of the building, constructed by the French rulers in 1857, saw cracks developing on the eastern part of the facade and rushed out of the premises. "We luckily noticed the cracks and rushed out in a hurry" one of the workers said.
All the offices of the Municipality were shifted to some other premises before the commencement of the works.
Minutes after the workers running out of the premises, the entire ceiling of the two storied building came down with a bang, he said.
Puducherry government took up renovation work of the building with an investment of Rs 7.5 Crores provided by the World Bank as part of its initiatives to preserve and restore the glory of the buildings coming under the "heritage category", a top official of the PIA told reporters at the site.
Local Administration Minister N G Panneerselvam rushed to the spot. He said the entire premises had been cordoned off by the police.
The elected municipal body also had its regular meetings in the building in the past.
Secretary of the CPI(M)'s Puducherry unit, V.Perumal said there was "inordinate delay in evolving renovation plan and its execution was also very sluggish. The government should have acted several years ago when the plastering peeled off and started crumbling from the ceiling", he said.
