Instrumental engineer Bastian Martin, who is working in Muscat, Oman, had put his entire life savings into a three-bedroom flat on the second floor of the 11-storey structure that collapsed on Saturday evening.
“The cost of the flat was Rs. 67 lakh and I paid a total of Rs. 53.5 lakh in installments. My entire family was devastated on hearing of the collapse,” said Mr. Martin, speaking from Muscat.
The native of Tiruchi is one of the many buyers who, trusting the promises of the builder, sunk their savings in the project.
Another buyer Guru Raghavendran, also working overseas, had spent Rs. 38 lakh on a two-bedroom flat (1,030 sq ft) on the sixth floor. “I’m shocked and confused regarding the future course of action. Both retrieving my hard-earned money and owning my dream home now seem far away,” Guru said The Hindu .
M. Manoharan (60), managing director of Prime Sristi Housing Ltd, which developed the building and his son Muthu Kamatchi, director of the structure, had sent out emails to all the buyers stating that the building had collapsed after it was struck by lightning. The duo, who are now in prison, also stated in the letter that the buyers would be adequately compensated.
