Mumbai building collapse: 10 dead, many still trapped under debris

Mumbai : In a tragic incident at Mumbai's congested enclave on Tuesday afternoon, a four-storeyed building, believed to be illegal, collapsed in Dongri. 10 people were reported dead and many others were trapped inside the debris till last reports.

It is likely that the death toll will climb as the rescue operation was underway.

Meanwhile, the misters and leaders started rushing to the spot, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) and BMC officials started a blame game.

While Mhada CEO Milind Mhaiskar told TOI that the building was “illegal” and did not figure on its records, a top BMC official said the structure was authorised because Mhada had been collecting cess from the occupants. But state housing minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also confirmed the building was illegal. He said officials from both BMC and Mhada should be held responsible for letting it come up.

As reported by Times of India, the locals said that they saw some chunks falling from the building before the building collapsed. The first call was received by the Fire Department at 11:40am.

“We reached immediately but there was low visibility. We heard people trapped in the debris shouting for help, but we were helpless because it was difficult to move the beams and debris.”  For some like Mohammad Alam, who had rented out a room on the second floor of the collapsed structure, it was a lucky escape. He said he was in his bathroom when he felt vibrations and loud noise. “I along with three female members and a child rushed out by using the stairs. One side of the staircase collapsed and another side of the stair where I was living was standing,” he said.

Late on Tuesday evening, municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi visited the site and said his immediate priority was to rescue the trapped people. Safdar Karmali, trustee of Dharamsay Khakoo Charitable and Religious Trust which owned the building, said, “I became the trustee in 2002, the building was constructed prior to that. Those days, people used their influence to erect structures without permission. I and the trust are not responsible for it.”

(Statements have been taken from the TOI report)