A four-storeyed building collapsed in Mumbai’s Kurla on Monday night taking the lives of 17 people as informed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Tuesday. On Monday night, Minister Aaditya Thackeray visited Kurla where the building collapsed and the families of the deceased.
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Potnis said that this incident occurred not because of the negligence of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). He stressed that in 2016, the building was listed under the C1 category. Later, following an audit, it was reclassified under C2. It should have been repaired, but it wasn’t.
BMCAdditional Commissioner Ashwini Bhide also clarified that the collapsed building was dilapidated, since 2013, notices had been first given for its repair, and then for its demolition.
“Whenever BMC issues notices, (buildings) should be vacated themselves…otherwise, such incidents happen, which is unfortunate…It’s now important to take action on this,” Thackeray said.
Meanwhile, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar tweeted his grief and announced five lakh for the deceased’s family.
The deceased have been identified as Ajay Paspor (28), Kishor Prajapati (20), Sikandar Rajbhar (21), Arvind Rajendra Bharati (19), Anup Rajbhar (18), Anil Yadav (21), Shyam Prajapati (18), Ajinkya Gaikwad (34), Leelabai Gaikwad (60), Ramesh Badiya (50), Pralhad Gaikwad (65), Guddu Paspor (22) and two unknown aged 30 and 35. Ramesh’s wife and son were found injured this morning and their condition is stable now.
NDRF called it a sandwich collapse. “100 NDRF personnel are engaged in rescue operations. However, not everyone is working at the same time and at each time 40 personnel are asked to take over the rescue operations. Three of our dogs are at the site helping in the canine search. Because of rains operations are slowed down,” said Kumar whose team rescued three persons alive as well.
