Mumbai building collapse: Mumbai Fire Brigade has declared the Ghatkopar building collapse as a major incident.
At least 12 people were killed, including six women, and nineteen people were rescued from the collapsed site in Ghatkopar, PTI reported. Mumbai police has detained Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap and booked him for culpable homicide, ANI reported. The rescued people have been taken to nearby Shantiniketan hospital. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis told ANI, “Offence registered, police is investigating. I have directed BMC commissioner to investigate and submit report within 15 days.”
Most of those trapped in the debris are believed to be elderly and women. Out of the eight deceased, six were females. The building is located on LBS Road, near Shreyas Cinema in Ghatkopar West. The Mumbai Fire Brigade has declared it as a major incident. The building housed around 15 families.
Rahangdale also said that the civic body’s control room received a call at around 10.43 am about the accident.
PTI quoted Rahangdale as saying: “Our rescue team, fire brigade jawans and other senior officials of the BMC have also reached the spot. The rescue work is going on a war-footing.”
Rescue operation are underway. (Source: Express Photo)
The property reportedly belongs to a Shiv Sena leader S Shitap. BMC Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar ordered an inquiry into the incident. “Five people have died, 8 seriously injured. Don’t know about Sunil Shitap, have ordered an inquiry,” news agency ANI quoted Mahadeshwar as saying.
Congress leader Pravin Chheda claimed that Shitap was running a guest house on the ground floor of the building. “Property belongs to Sena’s S Shitap, he was running hospital on ground floor and was now going to run guest house. The onus lies on him,” Chheda was quoted by ANI.
Two wings of Saidarshan building, Gr + 4 structure collapses at LBS Road, Ghatkopar (W). Many feared trapped.@IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/qubC90kxo9
— Rashmi Rajput (@RashmiRajput123) July 25, 2017
A Ganesha retrieved from the building debris. (Source: Express
The building was at least 35 years old, according to a local resident. However, it was not listed in the dangerous category. Another resident, Rajesh Diyora, said that the collapse may have been caused by a commercial activity being carried out on the ground floor.
The area near the building was cordoned off by Mumbai police and the traffic on the Lal Bhadur Shastri road was blocked to provide a ‘green corridor’ to rush those pulled out of the debris to hospital.
