Two skyscrapers illegally built in India have been demolished after a long legal battle.
Over 3,700 kg of explosives were used, officials told local mediaCrowds watching on from nearby rooftops cheered and clapped as the pair of 103-metre buildings collapsed from a controlled demolition and the dust enveloped the residential area.
India's Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the towers in the Noida area last year after a long legal battle found they violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms.Thousands had vacated their apartments near the blast site for about 10 hours, and scores of police and emergency personnel were deployed for the demolition of the towers containing 850 unoccupied apartments.
Sudeep Roy, who owns an apartment in a nearby low-rise building, said he booked hotel rooms to spend the night with family and friends. "It is best to stay away from the blast site for 24 hours because the air will get toxic and we don't know how it can impact our health," he said. The blast was expected to leave over 80,000 tonnes of rubble, most to be used to fill the site and the rest to be recycled.
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