Mahad building collapse: 13 dead, four-year-old among two rescued alive

NAVI MUMBAI: Almost 28 hours after a ground plus five-storeyed building collapsed in Mahad town, three persons are still missing, while a four-year-old and a 55-year-old woman were rescued alive from the Mahad building collapse site on Tuesday.
As many as 13 persons were extricated dead, while around 62 persons had managed to escape death in the nick of time before the Tarique Garden building collapsed at around 6.18 pm on Monday. Many of those who escaped suffered major injuries, while some escaped with minor injuries.
Maharashtra building collapse: Child rescued, mother found dead
While rescue operations continue, the Mahad Police has booked five persons including a Taloja resident, Faròoq Kazi, who had constructed the building, architect Gaurav Shah, consultant Bahubali Dhamane, former chief officer of the Mahad Municipal Council Dipak Zinzad and Shashikant Dighe, works department supervisor of the municipal council, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence causing death among others.
Raigad collector Nidhi Chaudhary said, “The ground plus five storeyed building had 41 flats. The construction of the building began in 2011 and an occupancy certificate was issued in 2013. We have not come across any records to prove allegations of poor quality of work and about structural audit. However, allegations will be probed as the building collapsed within seven years of construction.”
Mahad SDO Vitthal Inamdar said, “The A wing had 20 flats and B wing had 21 flats. However, some of the flats were vacant. The deceased will be recommended for Rs 4 lakh compensation each as per norms.”
Raigad police PRO Suresh Yamgar said, “Mahad municipal council former chief officer and works supervisor have been booked as they had cleared the building by providing occupancy certificate. The three-main accused are booked for poor quality of construction. No one has been arrested so far, but search for the accused is on.”
Tehsildar Vishal Daundkar said, “Four-year-old Mohammed Bangi and 55-year-old Mehernosa Kazi were rescued alive from the debris by the NDRF team."
Local resident Irfan Pevekar is worried, as his 80-year-old relative Habiba Hajwane, who had undergone an operation on one of his legs, was trapped in the debris and is untraceable. “Hajwane had nobody in his house to rescue him at that moment,” said Pevekar.