The construction of two 103-meter high skyscrapers in the suburbs of New Delhi was ruled illegal and by order of the Supreme Court they were demolished.
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate for about 10 hours today from their apartments, which are located near two skyscrapers in the suburbs of New Delhi that will be demolished by a controlled explosion, as their construction was deemed illegal.
A heavy police force and rescue crews have been deployed for the expected 9 to 15-second operation to demolish the two 103-metre high buildings, which house 850 unoccupied flats.
Authorities have also diverted traffic around the Apex and Ceyane skyscrapers, which are on a busy highway connecting India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, with the capital.
The Supreme Court last year ordered the demolition of the two high-rises located in the Noida district after a long legal battle, finding them to be in violation of several building and fire safety norms.
More than 3,700 kilograms of explosives were used around 14:30 local time today (12:00 Greek time) to demolish the two residential complexes, officials told local news networks. The two buildings collapsed after the detonation of the explosives, which had been strategically placed to ensure minimal damage to the residential area in which they are located.
The order to remove residents of nearby apartments from their homes is in effect for about ten hours. However, some families have moved to safe places where they will remain at night, fearing an increased pollution and the risks that the many debris from the two buildings may pose to their health.
Sudeep Roy, owner of a four-room apartment in a nearby building, said he booked hotel rooms last week to spend tonight with family and friends.
"It's better to stay away from the blast site for 24 hours because the air can become toxic and we don't know what impact it can have on our health," noted the father of two boys, one of whom suffers from asthma.
The eruption is expected to leave behind more than 80,000 tons of debris, most of which will be used to fill the void and the rest will be recycled.
Some nearby buildings have been covered with white plastic sheeting to protect them from debris from the explosion, while some residents say they fear damage to their property from the shock wave of the explosions.
