IIT Guwahati to begin probe into Assembly dome collapse today

SHILLONG, June 23: The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IITG) is likely to begin its probe into the collapse of the dome of under-construction Assembly building at the New Shillong Township from Friday.
Soon after the incident which occurred on May 22, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma had approached four IITs to take up the probe and eventually, the IITG was selected.
A senior government official said the two-part probe-cum-safety audit is expected to begin on Friday. The IITG will conduct a non-destructive test on the safety and stability of the entire building, except the dome portion.
“The report will be submitted within 15 days, after which the work can resume,” the official said.
Subsequently, the IITG will conduct an analysis on the dome portion. It will collect samples from the site of the building for the analysis. The report will be submitted within two months.
Recently, the PWD (Buildings) had signed a memorandum with the IITG for the job.
The dome weighed 70 tonnes and its actual height was about 65 metres. The height of the minar was 13 metres.
The dome’s collapse had left the state government embarrassed. Political parties, pressure groups, civil societies and citizens had wasted no time in going hard at the government over alleged shoddy construction of the building. They are still demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
Two decades ago, a devastating fire had gutted the historic old Assembly building. Ever since then, the state has been without a permanent Assembly building.