VIDEO: India demolishes 2 highrise towers with 3,700kg explosives for illegal construction

Gulf Today Report

Indian authorities on Sunday demolished two 32 floors of "Apex" and the 29 of "Ceyane” skyscrapers in a residential area on the outskirts of New Delhi, due to "violation of building rules."

Plans to demolish the two structures, which are 103 metres high, included a process that took between 12 and 15 seconds, with 3,700 kilograms of explosives.

The authorities were forced to evacuate people living in the vicinity early on Sunday, to be allowed to return to their homes five hours after the completion of the demolition.

The authority also declared the area a "no-fly zone", and more than 400 security personnel were deployed at the demolished site, as the two buildings contained more than 900 housing units.

Although the engineering company reiterated that the explosives would not affect the neighboring buildings, residents close to the site were keen to separate electronic devices and remove panels in anticipation of the explosion, as well as to put curtains to prevent dust from entering their homes.

But residents are also concerned about the pollution from the demolition, which will result in 80,000 tons of debris.

Although illegal construction is rampant in Indian cities, demolition of large buildings is rare, and locals who live near the site said they fear damage to their property from the force of the explosions or pollute the air from dust.