NOIDA, India (Reuters) – Indian authorities tore down two illegally built skyscrapers into a large pile of dusty debris on Sunday near the capital New Delhi, bringing down the country’s tallest structures ever demolished in less than 10 seconds. Crowds watching the collapse from rooftops of nearby high-rise buildings cheered and clapped as the 103-meter (338 ft) towers collapsed in a controlled demolition and dust enveloped the residential area. The Supreme Court last year ordered the demolition of the towers in the Noida area after a long legal battle that found them violating multiple building regulations and fire safety norms. More than 3,700 kilograms (8,100 pounds) of explosives were used around 2:30 p.m. (09:00 GMT), officials told local media. The strategically placed explosives were intended to ensure minimal damage to the area. Police said they were assessing whether there was any damage. Local residents said they would check if their properties were damaged. Such demolitions are rare in India despite rampant illegal construction. Thousands had evacuated their apartments near the blast site for about 10 hours, and dozens of police and emergency personnel were deployed to demolish the towers containing 850 unoccupied apartments. Traffic was slowly being restored and firefighters were using water sprinklers to reduce dust levels around the Apex and Ceyane towers, which were at the edge of a busy highway connecting India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, with the capital. Some buildings in the area were covered with white plastic sheets to protect them from the debris. On Twitter, many people said the decision to blow up the towers was a stern action against corruption and will serve as an example and warning to builders and construction companies. The explosion was expected to leave over 80,000 tons of debris, most of which will be used to fill the site and the rest for recycling. Many families moved to safe areas on Saturday, fearing increased pollution and health risks from the massive debris. The story continues Sudeep Roy, owner of a four-room flat in a nearby low-rise building, said he booked hotel rooms last week to spend the night with family and friends. “It’s better to stay away from the blast site for 24 hours because the air will become toxic and we don’t know how it might affect our health,” said Roy, a mechanical engineer and father of twin boys, one of whom is suffering. from asthma. (Writing by Abhirup Roy Editing by Rupam Jain and William Mallard)
