Mumbai: Dilapidated building crashes, no casualty

MUMBAI: A dilapidated four-storey residential building, Gitanjali CHS, in Borivli's Sai Baba Nagar came crashing down on Friday afternoon. No one was hurt as the building was largely unoccupied and, fortunately, the three families still living in it had left two hours earlier, said civic officials.
The three families had about 20 members living in the building, said deputy municipal commissioner Bhagyashree Kapse. "However, around 10.30am on Friday, they felt vibrations and ran out. Around 12.40pm the building collapsed. We have confirmed that none of them or any house help, laundrymen or guests were in the building."

At 12.46pm, the building collapsed almost on itself, causing little damage to surrounding structures. Mumbai fire brigade, police and BMC ward officials reached to secure the site.
The building, said to be 45 years old, was added to the BMC's dilapidated buildings list in 2020 after its structural audit placed it in the C-1 category, which means dangerous. But residents of Gitanjali brought in their own structural auditor, who declared it repairable, said officials.
When there are contradicting reports, the case is referred to the Technical Audit Committee (TAC). "In 2020, the TAC also declared it dilapidated and in the C-1 category. But the residents approached the high court, which stayed the demolition and said residents would be staying there at their own risk," said the official.
Kapse said there are three more dilapidated and dangerous buildings on the same premises, and they are evacuating around 75 residents to avoid any untoward incident. "We will be providing them space in BMC schools where they can keep their belongings and stay temporarily. This has been relayed to all through loudspeakers," she said.
"What happened is extremely unfortunate and the BMC has asked us to vacate the premises immediately. It is very difficult to find suitable accommodation at such a short notice," said a resident.
Shiv Sena's Sheetal Mhatre, a former corporator from Dahisar (W) who used to chair the BMC law committee, visited the site with civic officials. "The BMC will have to remove the debris using large machinery and fears it may cause vibrations affecting the stability of the other buildings as well. As these buildings are already declared dangerous, the administration has decided to initiate the process of demolishing them as well," she said.