WATCH: 19-Floor Maradu Flats Demolished Within Seconds Using Controlled Explosion

Dramatic visual of controlled demolition of one of the four illegal apartment complexes is going viral on the internet. The demolition drives are being conducted by the Kerala government. This is one of the largest demolition drives in India involving residential complexes. Before starting the demolition drive, the prohibitory order was declared by the Ernakulam District Collector. Section 144 of CrPC was imposed on the land, water and in the air in the evacuation zone of all the illegal waterfront apartment complexes in Kochi.

The complexes housing a total of 343 flats were brought down using the implosion method. The companies engaged for it had completed the filling of explosives in the structures on Wednesday.

People witnessed the implosion from outside the evacuation zone. Earlier, residents in the evacuation zone were directed to switch off the electricity and all appliances before leaving their homes. They were also advised to close all windows and doors to protect their houses from dust.

All traffic airborne, waterborne, land-based was prohibited in the evacuation zone, police.

Maradu Flat Owners Plea Was Rejected By Supreme Court

Earlier in December, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by some owners of Maradu flats in Kochi seeking direction to the Attorney General to grant permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against concerned authorities for allegedly misleading the court in the matter.

The top court had on September 30 refused to entertain a plea of flat owners seeking a stay on its order to demolish four apartment complexes in Maradu which were built in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms.

On September 27, the top court had directed demolition of these flats within 138 days, a timeline given by the Kerala government, and had asked the state to pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks.