Mumbai: 5 injured as overcrowded lift crashes in SRA scheme building

MUMBAI: An overcrowded elevator crashed in a building in Byculla late on Saturday night injuring five persons including three women and two children. The JJ Marg police have registered a case and booked the building’s developer and others.
Sources said that all five were rushed to the state-run JJ Hospital and their condition is said to be stable. According to information, the elevator at Gulmohar Terrace building on Khadia Street new Cafe Paradise collapsed at around 11:05 PM on Saturday night.
The building is a ground plus 18 storey constructed under a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. The Fire Brigade designated it as a level 1 incident.
The injured have been identified as Huma Khan (24), Arsha Khan (7), Sohan Kadri (3), Nilofer Shaikh (36) and Shahin Khan (45). “All five are admitted in the Orthopedic ward and are stable,” said an official.
The JJ Marg police have registered a first information report against the developer and concerned persons. The accused have been booked under section 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and section 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC.
Police sources said that the lift had a capacity of eight passengers. However, there were 16 people including several kids. “Two three boys were in the lift. The instructions about the lift capacity were written on the elevator’s wall but it could not be seen since a youngster was standing there. While the lift is only for eight persons, it has a huge space and many people entered it,” said police.
Inspector Yaqub Mulla of the JJ Marg police station said that the construction work in the building is still incomplete. “There is no OC and people have come to stay there. Work on some floors is still on. The injured persons are stable,” said Mulla.