Contractor Lakshmana Rao, who executed the works, was blacklisted, The New Indian Express reported.
The wall collapse took place during the Chandanotsavam temple festival, following which Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had tasked a three-member committee with investigating the incident. The suspensions were based on the committee’s preliminary report submitted on May 5, Monday. A detailed report is expected in a month.
The committee, led by Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) S Suresh Kumar, also included Inspector General (IG) of Police Ake Ravi Krishna and Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Department Venkateswar Rao. The committee spoke to various officials and contractors involved in the construction of the wall, including contractor Lakshmana Rao.
Visuals of Lakshmana Rao telling the committee that he was rushed to finish the construction of the wall in time for the Chandanotsavam festival were widely circulated on social media.