6-year-old girl falls from third floor of Navi Mumbai building, suffers only minor injuries

A six-year-old girl has survived with miraculously minor injuries after falling from the third-floor window of a residential building in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The incident took place around 2.30pm on Wednesday at B3/5 building in Vashi’s sector 2. Residents of the society said their building is in a dilapidated condition.

The girl, Nishtha Chowdhary, had come to stay at her relative Bharat Chowdhary’s house a few days ago. She was playing on the window when the grill collapsed, taking the girl three floors down along with it, a source said. She sustained minor injuries to her head and has been admitted to MGM hospital.

Family members refused to speak, but a neighbour, Kiranjeet Kaur, 27, said: “We have been complaining to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and to Cidco for a long time that our building is in a dilapidated condition. But nobody cares. It is no surprise that a window grill came off. The building structure has become weak. The child could have died.”

Sunil Wadkar, 35, another resident, agreed. “We are not getting permission for redevelopment, nor are authorities doing anything to make the structure more safe. If they don’t do something soon, we will start an agitation.”

Local corporator Sampat Shevale said: “This is a serious matter. It is fortunate that the child escaped with minor injuries. I will take up the issue with MLA Manda Mhatre and help residents of the building.”

Vashi ward officer Mahendra Singh Thoke said: “We are not aware of the incident. The building has not been declared dilapidated by the civic body. We will look into the issue.”