In a major mishap after Tuesday’s cloudburst, at least 22 persons were killed and 34 others injured when a 117-year-old building collapsed off Pakmodia Street at the congested Bhendi Bazaar locality in south Mumbai.
At least 15 persons were feared trapped under the debris of the six-storey “Huseini Building” which caved in like a proverbial pack of cards at 8.30 am. The rescue operations were continuing till late in the evening.
The ground plus six storey-building with two wings housed 12 residential tenements and a commercial premises. On the ground floor, there was a sweet manufacturing unit-cum-shop, also a caterers' godown and kitchen.
The building also housed a nursery-cum-playgroup with on the ground floor. Fortunately, 20-odd children had not still arrived at the school when the mishap took place.
The building, owned by the Bohri Muslim community-controlled Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), had been in a “dangerous” condition for the past six years.
The State-run Maharashtra Housing and Area Development (MHADA) had issued notices to residents in the building on March 28, 2011 and May 20, 2011, declaring the structure as “dilapidated” and asking the occupants to move out to transit accommodation. “We had shifted out seven families from the building during 2013-14,” a spokesperson of the trust said.
Incidentally, the building was awaiting re-development under a cluster development scheme of the MHADA. The residents had not moved out of the dilapidated building despite repeated reminders from the authorities.
Extending his condolences to the next of kin of those killed in the mishap, Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Collapse of a building in Mumbai is saddening. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers with the injured”.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the crash site and expressed grief over the loss of lives, ordered a detailed inquiry into the circumstanced leading to the building collapse. The State Additional Chief Secretary (Housing) will conduct the inquiry.
Fadnavis also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of each of those killed in the mishap and free treatment to all those injured in the mishap.
In what was described as one of the difficult rescue and relief operations, a team of National Disaster National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined a 150-strong team of fire brigade personnel in the efforts to pull out those trapped under the debris of the building.
Involved in the operation were 10 fire engines, Quick Response Vehicles, two rescue vans, house collapse van and ambulances. Among those injured in the mishap were four brigade personnel. Of the injured, at least 20 were treated and allowed. Another 14 injured persons are undergoing treatment at the nearby JJ and Saifee hospitals
Earlier, eyewitnesses recounted the chain of events leading to the collapse.”There was an explosion-like thud. It was followed by a cloud of dust and smoke. Initially, we were confused as to what had happened. Minutes later, we realised that a building in our area had caved in. We heard people screaming. Men and women running helter skelter,” local activist Dinesh Sadh said.
Giving an identical version, local resident Amina Sheikh said: “All we heard was a massive bang. Before long, a huge cloud of dust and smoke enveloped us. Once the dust settled, we realised the building had collapsed”.
The rescuers had a trying time reaching out to those trapped under the debris. They had to break huge concrete boulders before they could reach underneath the debris. What made matters difficult was the fact that the collapsed building is in a congested locality where the authorities had found it difficult to reach excavating equipment.
“We will continue the operation overnight till the last person or body is accounted for,” chief fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale said.
Thursday’s was the second major building collapse in little over a month. On July 25, 17 persons were killed and 20 others injured when the Sai Darshan building collapsed at Ghatkopar north-east Mumbai.