Many trapped in debris as nearly 100 year old building collapses in Mumbai

A nearly 100-year-old four-storey building collapsed in the mountainous area of ​​South Mumbai. So far 12 people have been killed in this incident. More than 20 people are still buried in debris.

The incident happened around 11.40 am. Half of the Kesarabai building, situated near JJ Hospital, collapsed. According to sources, there were more than 40 people of about 15 families in the building at the time of the accident. Due to the time of day most of the men had left for work. A little away from the scene is the Dongri police station. Immediately after the accident, police arrived at the spot and started working with the help of locals to remove the people from the debris.

In a short while the fire department and NDRF also took the relief and rescue ranks. But due to the accident, the heavy machines like JCB could not be reached due to being in very narrow streets. This increased the problem of rescue. When people started making debris by creating a human chain, the depressed people could be removed.

The injured were sent to JJ Hospital located nearby. According to Uday Samant, president of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), 12 people had died in the incident by evening. But the police have confirmed the death of four people. In connection with the causes of the accident, a period of allegation and rejection has begun in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and MHADA. MHADA president Uday Samant admitted that MHADA had given responsibility to repair the buildings of this area to a private sector contractor. But no work of repair was done in this area from 2012 to 2019.

Samant says that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the accident. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who reached the spot, has also ordered an investigation in the incident and assured the action on the culprits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sorrow over the accident and wished the injured a speedy recovery. By the evening, two children and seven women had been expelled from the rubble.

It is noteworthy that in 2017, 33 people were killed in the same area as a four-storey building collapsed on Pakmodia Street. Most of the buildings in this area are 70 to 100 years old. It is believed that due to heavy rains in Mumbai, water logging and sharp winds have weakened Kesarbai building. A notice has been issued to evacuate more than a dozen buildings. The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust has started work on removing the old buildings of the most densely populated settlement of Bhindi Bazar situated just a few points away from here and rehabilitating the entire area. Despite this, most people who are living in this area for years are not ready to vacate the buildings.

According to figures from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, since 1996, 17 buildings have collapsed in this area, in which 267 have lost their lives. BMC declared 791 buildings of Mumbai extremely dangerous a few years ago. Out of these, 186 buildings have been demolished and 117 have already been vacant.