Sundarban Hotel at risk after road subsidence

A six-storey building in capital Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar has been evacuated after a street beside it suffered sudden subsidence.

Portion of the boundary wall of the Sundarban Hotel and nearly 120-feet stretch of the alley adjacent to it caved in after subsidence on to a construction site beside it.

The hotel management has evacuated the building at the CR Dutta Road as city authorities feared it might collapse.

Witnesses said it was raining around 7:30am when a part of the boundary wall and the alley subsided and spilled over on to the construction site of National Bank Ltd Twin Tower.

An electric pole, few trees and tea-stalls at the street corner also crumbled under the impact.

No casualties were reported, said police.

Fire service officials said that the water and gas connection lines of the hotel building have been damaged due to the road subsidence.

Meanwhile, panic gripped people as the building developed some cracks, compelling the management to evacuate the hotel.

“Soil condition suggests  the building might collapse,” said Fire Service Director Shakil Newaz.

Utilities of the building like water, electricity and gas have been disconnected.

Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq visited the site of the subsidence and the hotel.

“The site has now been cleared and the hotel has been evacuated,” he told reporters after emerging from the hotel building.

“The situation is dangerous, the road may also collapse. We will discuss with the city development authority on what can be done to avoid further disaster,” added Huq.