HYDERABAD: Portions of Pucca Qila’s fortification wall caved in and caused partial collapse to six houses resting on its inner edge. The debris fell on some roadside shops and houses. No one die or injured in the incident.

Many such structures, touching the old fort’s wall, exist inside for years though the wall sustains damage in heavy rainfall in monsoon. The inhabitants are unwilling to move to safe places.

A survey conducted some 15 years back found many houses and structures inside dangerous and advised the inhabitants to vacate them but they declined to move to any other place. A seventh house within the fort is said to be in a dilapidated condition and could collapse any time.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2020