Mysuru: Devaraja Market building at the north entrance gate came down crashing on Sunday evening, August 28.
The dilapidated building, famously known as Dodda market was closed for restoration from the last five months. Shops had been evicted from the north entrance gates towards Danavanthri road. The two-storey building still had two offices functioning in it.
A few labourers who were working at the heritage building were shocked to see the huge structure collapse. It would have been a major tragedy if it was a working day as people would be around which could lead to casualties. The Mysuru City Corporation had taken up restoration works of the market under Chief Minister Nagarathonta programme and other funds from a Mumbai-based firm.
According to eye-witnesses, engineer Ravikumar had observed crack in the structure around 4 pm and sought their help to evict labourers, watchmen and the public thereby averting casualties. Earlier, a fire mishap at the market had led to loss running into lakhs of rupees to traders and tenants.
The 125-year-old structure was built during Chamraja Wodeyar IX as a small weekly market. Devaraja market spread over three acres has more than 800 shops. The century-old-market is also a tourist attraction as many of the foreign nationals visit the place to take pictures of the market.
