The high-rises on the outskirts of India’s capital were the tallest structures ever destroyed in the country in such a short time. Thousands of people had to be evacuated from their homes before the demolition, and crowds watched the spectacle from nearby rooftops, cheering as the 103-metre (338 ft) towers fell. More than 3,700 kilograms (8,100 pounds) of explosives were used in the 32- and 29-story buildings – but strategically placed to avoid damage to the surrounding area in the city of Noida. “To a large extent, everything is fine,” government administrator Ritu Maheshwari said after the demolition. “It went as expected.” Image: Photos: AP Water sprinklers doused the huge clouds of dust from the Apex and Ceyane towers, and some buildings were covered with white plastic sheeting for protection. The buildings were not yet occupied. The order to destroy them came from the High Court after a long court battle that ended when the court found that their construction violated several building and fire safety regulations. The court also said the construction was illegal because the builder did not obtain mandatory consent from other flat owners in the area. Authorities plan to use some of the expected 80,000 tons of rubble to fill the site and intend to recycle the rest. A man who lived near the site had booked hotel rooms to keep his twin boys – one of whom has asthma – away. Mechanical engineer Sudeep Roy said, “It is 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.”
