Residents of a dilapidated building near the Government Multipurpose ITI complex at Borda were evacuated on Wednesday evening after another portion of the structure collapsed, prompting authorities to clear the building and neighbouring houses as a precautionary measure.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Margao, Ganesh Barve, accompanied by District Police Chief Akshat Ayush and Margao SDPO SP Gurudas Kadam, visited the site after receiving information that a sajja (projected balcony slab) of the old building had collapsed.

The latest incident has heightened concerns among local residents, who pointed out that a portion of the building's sajja had also collapsed last month, triggering fear and anxiety in the neighbourhood.

SDM Barve said a report on the condition of the building would be submitted to South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority.

Clarifying that the building's safety status could not be determined immediately, Barve said a structural stability test would have to be conducted by the technical agencies before any conclusion could be reached.

"As a precautionary measure, we have evacuated the residents. Some of them have taken shelter at the residences of their relatives," he said.
The authorities have taken the precautionary step of evacuating the occupants pending a technical assessment of the structure.