“Goosebumps”: Noida Demolition’s Project Head Hours Ahead Of Big Blast

Noida:

Ahead of the explosion that will bring down the massive twin towers in Noida today, the project head of the engineering firm tasked with the job said he’s getting “goosebumps” since morning.

“I would lie if I say I am not nervous. I am nervous. I have been getting goosebumps since morning. I am a little nervous but confident as well,” said Utkarsh Mehta of Edifice Engineering while speaking to NDTV.

He said all preparations have been done and the blast will be executed sharp at 2:30 pm.

“We are almost ready, everything is done. We are checking the connections. Some instruments required to monitor data are being deployed,” he said.

Only six people will be present 100 metres away from the demolition site during the blast – one from the police, three foreigners (demolition experts from South Africa) and two blasters, said Mr Mehta.

The Supertech twin towers, taller than the Qutub Minar, have been fitted with 3,700 kg explosives in its pillars. The collapse will last for nine seconds and it will take another 12 minutes for the dust to settle, an official earlier said.

All roads leading to the twin towers have been closed and a 450-metre explosion zone has been created, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rajesh S. Besides, seven security cameras have been installed for monitoring and two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been kept on standby, he told NDTV.

The police have set up a mini control room 450 metres away from the towers, the senior officer said, adding that traffic diversion points were activated at 7 am.

The Supreme Court had ordered the demolition last year over violations of building norms.